I have just been interviewed for Inspiresme. I thought I would share it with you. Please follow the link.

www.inspiresme.co.uk/business-planning/business-plans/10-of-the-uk-s-most-inspirational-female-entrepren/

The RDA event in Canada finally came to a close at a Gala event on Saturday night so Ian, Kate and I spent a few hours sightseeing on Sunday before we flew home and fortunately the sun spent the day with us too!

Here we are on our booth and then visiting the Olympic Stadium from the summer of 1967 as well as the setting for the magnificent church of St Joseph. However, it was good to get home at last!

Yes, that’s our free gift this time.

Everyone loves our sparkly Union Jack headbands (as well as our accents!) as you can see by these excited students!

It’s very busy here in Montreal with so much happening all day every day! Our booth is right next to the ABT one so we have been able to talk to the teachers about their ABT uniform once they have heard about this great training programme from the booth next door.
Here is Kate talking to Jenna from ABT.

Here’s Kate ready to greet our first customers!

For the first time ever I am in Canada!

Ian, Kate and I are here in Montreal for the centenary celebrations of Regional Dance America. We have set up our booth this afternoon and are now ready to welcome the hundreds of dance teachers from all over Canada and USA with a very special, very English gift. Pictures to follow!

Kate and I had a little walk to get some fresh air and stopped off at the magnificent Notre Dame Basilica.

Today I have been back in London but this time at the Royal Academy of Dance for a very special farewell lunch for Dame Antoinette Sibley who has stepped down today after almost 21years as President of the RAD. She has been an inspirational figurehead and talked fondly about her time at the Academy.

Dame Antoinette unveiled a bronze bust of herself and she was also presented with the Queen Elizabeth 2nd Coronation Award 2012. It was a delightful event!

Earlier on in the day I had attended the RAD AGM where the next President was voted in. Everyone at IDS is delighted to hear that it will be Darcey Bussell CBE. It’s been quite a week for Darcey as it has also just been announced that she will join the judging panel of Strictly Come Dancing this autumn.

This is me with Dame Antoinette and the newly unveiled sculpture.

I am in the middle of a very hectic week of travelling. Yesterday we had a fantastic morning at The Royal Ballet School taking photos of our 1st Position Pro range for the next Diamond Book.

Our model, Amy Thake, is a professional dancer and former Royal Ballet School student. Our photographer, Elaine, is a former English National Ballet soloist, so we really were pushing the Professional theme!

Here is Amy on set with Elaine Mayson our photographer, Elaine our buyer and me. Look out for the great new Pro styles in August!

Today Ian and I celebrated our wedding anniversary with a great day out in London. Here we are having a champagne trip on the London Eye. Look at the amazing weather! It’s hard to believe its March!

Later in the day we had a fascinating tour of the House of Lords from the incredibly interesting Baroness Jolly followed by afternoon tea in the House of Lords Dining Room. Quite an eventful couple of days!

I am thrilled to be able to tell you that we have just been awarded the ECMOD award for our category!

Jonathan and Allison proudly took to the stage to take our latest ECMOD trophy. Thank you to all our great catalogue and web team as well as all our wonderful customers-without you we would not win anything!