History
A note from Chris -
Chris was born in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire and trained at I M Marsh College of Physical Education, Liverpool from 1971 to 1974 specialising in Dance and Music. She then moved to Southport to teach at Stanley High School where she became Head of Girls' PE (better known as Miss Bradbury) where she established dance firmly on the curriculum writing her own Mode 3 CSE examination syllabus and running many successful extra curricular dance activities including early morning technique classes before school. She married Rod Wright in 1979 and left Stanley in 1981 to become a full time mum to their daughters Alison and Anna. Encouraged by former pupils she formed Chris Wright's Contemporary Dance Group in 1981 and loved performing herself! She also taught adult classes in contemporary dance, aerobics at Formby High School and dance to the competition class at Southport YMCA Gymnastics Club.
In 1985 when Alison was 3 and Anna 2 she began teaching creative dance classes which once established became Chris Wright's School of Contemporary Dance.
At the same time, Chris worked for Sefton on supply which included a spell teaching boys PE at Stanley and two years at Presfield School. She then went to Birkdale School For Hearing Impaired Children where she was Head of Performing Arts from 1990 until the school closed in 2003, writing and producing many shows and teaching GCSE Drama. After two terms teaching drama at Greenbank High School Chris decided to spend more time developing her own school with her two daughters and introduced Drama and Piano lessons and the school became Chris Wright's School of Dance and Drama. In September 2014, after 30 years, Chris retired as a teacher from the school, but she still looks forward to supporting all the events & watching the school grow & watching the shows from the audience!
"Thank you everyone for all your kind comments, messages and cards wishing me a happy retirement. I have so many happy memories to take with me and have made so many dear friends through the school. Long Live Chris Wright's School of Dance and Drama! I'll be popping in to see you on all occasions but after 40 years teaching and 29 years in the dancing school, I am now really looking forward to seeing the next show from the audience. I'll be clapping and cheering the loudest. Lots of love to all pupils, parents and friends past and present." Chris
Where it all began - the very first class
Lots of happy memories
I started the school in 1985 to provide an opportunity for my daughters Alison and Anna aged 2 and 3 to enjoy
dancing with other children regardless of age or ability. I had my own Contemporary Dance Group at the time and I
was still performing and I wanted my children to develop their physical skills, imagination and to be free to
express their ideas in movement as they learnt more about the world around them. I have had the privilege to teach
many children who have shared my passion for dance as an expressive art form, many of whom and their parents
remain good friends. The school has continued to grow and expand year after year and in September 2011 my
daughter Alison Wright took over the school.
The school has been happy to support various charities and activities in the community. We hold various displays to enable the children to share their work with each other as well as an audience. We performed regularly at Marshside Road Home for the elderly until its closure and for Christian visitors annual parties. In 1991 we took part in Southport Carnival and received 3rd prize for our Music Hall float, 'The Good Old Days'.
In 1996 we performed in the 'Performathon' at the Little Theatre to raise funds for the purchase of the theatre. We performed with the Pink Floyd tribute band 'Think Floyd' for three consecutive years at Southport Theatre.
We have for many years performed at St Cuthbert's Rose Queen and garden party at Meols hall and Marshside Methodist Church summer garden party.
During the Liverpool capital of Culture year - 2008, we performed in Hesketh Park with Heartbeat's David Lonsdale in 'The Passion' and provided the live entertainment for The Golf Open Championships on Lord Street. We continue to perform in the theatre every year. We have performed at the Little Theatre, The Arts centre, both in the theatre and in the Studio and in Southport's Floral Hall.
Our past shows are:
| June 1990 | One Two Three Go! | The Little Theatre |
| April 1991 | One Two Three Go Again! | The Little Theatre |
| October 1992 | Take Five | The Arts Centre Studio |
| June 1993 | Six of the best | The Arts Centre Theatre |
| February 1995 | Inspirations | The Arts Centre Theatre |
| October 1995 | Their Finest Hour (World War 2) - Zip-a-dee-doo-dah (Disney) | The Arts Centre Theatre |
| March 1997 | Happy Feet | The Arts Centre Theatre |
| February 1998 | Magic and Mystery | The Arts Centre Theatre |
| February 1999 | Time and Place | The Arts Centre Theatre |
| September 1999 | A Night at the Movies | The Arts Centre Theatre |
| July 2001 | Free Spirits | The Arts Centre Theatre |
| March 2002 | Over the Rainbow | The Arts Centre Theatre |
| May 2003 | Dance with Attitude | The Arts Centre Theatre |
| July 2005 | 20:20 Vision | The Arts Centre Theatre |
| December 2006 | The Nutcracker | The Arts Centre Theatre |
| February 2008 | Ms Scrooge | The Arts Centre Theatre |
| March 2009 | Waiting in the Wings | The Arts Centre Theatre |
| July 2010 | Absolutely Everybody | The Floral Hall |
| October 2011 | That's Entertainment! | The Floral Hall |
| July 2013 | It's Show Time! | The Floral Hall |
| March 2015 | In The Spotlight | The Atkinson Theatre Southport |
| March 2017 | Don't Stop Me Now! | The Atkinson Theatre Southport |
| March 2019 | A Class Act! | The Atkinson Theatre Southport |
| March 2022 | Time to Shine | The Atkinson Theatre Southport |
Summer school productions at Southport Arts centre -
- September 2003 - Alice in Wonderland
- September 2004 - Around the world in 80 days
In November 2009 we were invited to perform in London's West End at Her Majesty's Theatre.
Take a look at our photo gallery for photos of all our latest performances. We have also recently performed at:
- The Dance House Theatre Manchester - March 2010 - Cheerleaders Performance
- The Liverpool Empire Theatre - March 2011 - Juste Dance, Senior Jazz Class
- The Globe Theatre Blackpool - March 2012 - Performance Team Variety Show
- St Helens Theatre Royal - March 2014 - 'Little Stars' in aid of MDNA, Performance Team
- Ellesmere Port Civic Hall - October 2014 - Fire and Freaks, Performance Team
- St Helen's Theatre Royal - May 2015 - 'Little Stars' in aid of MDNA, Performance Team
- Southport Theatre - June 2015 - 'Dirty Dancing Tribute Show', Senior Modern & Jazz classes
- Ellesmere Port Civic Hall - December 2015 - 'Christmas wishes' is aid of 'when you wish upon a star', Performance Team
- Southport Floral Hall - March 2016 - 'Little Stars' in aid of Jospice, Performance Team
- Southport theatre - October 2016 - Dirty Dancing tribute show - Senior modern, jazz & hip hop
- St Helen's Theatre Royal - December 2017 - Smile it's Christmas - Performance Team
- Liverpool Empire Theatre - April 2018 - Smile Together - Performance Team
- St Helen's Town Hall - November 2019 - Owen McVeigh Foundation - Performance Team
- Blackpool Opera House - July 2022 - Lancashire Hits Alice in Wonderland - Peformance Team
In 2013 and 2014, dancers from our school were selected to perform in All Souls pantomimes at the Atkinson Theatre.
We now offer a wide range of Dance and Drama classes where everyone is welcome from age 2 1/2.
We hope to see you at one of our classes soon.
Chris Wright.