A DEVOTED dance tutor who has taught hundreds of budding ballerinas is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her studio.

Born To Dance dance studio, on Northgate, Darlington, was set up in 1992 by dance teacher, Sue Henderson, and has since gone from strength to strength.

After initially setting up shop in Parkgate with about 20 pupils, Miss Henderson had to move to bigger premises to make room for the 250 pupils she now teaches.

The dedicated teacher, who is the only tutor at the studio, also celebrated her 50th birthday on Tuesday, with a surprise party organised by her pupils.

“I just enjoy teaching so much,” she said. “No day is the same and each class is completely different with different personalities.”

Her pupils range from age two-and-a-half to 18 and have competed in both national and international competitions.

A group of 17 of her dancers recently beat off competition from more than 260 performers from across England, France and Russia to win eight trophies and a number of medals at this year's International Dance Festival of Performing Arts, held at Disneyland Paris.

Miss Henderson, who has been dancing since she was three, has also danced professionally, before setting up her own business to teach ballet, tap, modern, acro-gym and lyrical dance.

She said: “I prefer teaching because every day is different, whereas when you are performing you do the same thing over and over again. I tried that but I just love teaching the children.

“I have taught quite a lot of students over the years and now I’m teaching the children of children I used to teach. I want to keep going as long as I can.”

For more information on classes at Born To Dance, visit misssueborntodance.co.uk