WILL Young's former backing dancer has opened a new dance school for children and teenagers in Nailsworth.

The Katy Walton Theatre Dance School is now open for business after hosting its first class on Tuesday.

Katy danced professionally for 15 years and was the backing dancer for the Pop Idol winner as well as for the award winning singer-songwriter Jane McDonald.

Classes are being held for children of all ages at the Sawyer Hall Christ Church, with Katy's youngest customer just 18-months-old and her oldest 16-years-old.

Katy is running the dance school by herself and she has been thrilled with the response she has received so far.

“We only started advertising three weeks ago and we’ve had 42 youngsters sign up for a taster already,” she said.

Katy will be running ballet, modern and tap, as well as musical theatre classes.

“After working for some incredible people as a backing dancer, at 25 I became a singer, and I have been singing five or six nights a week on the holiday circuit at hotels and holiday parks.”

After moving to Nailsworth from Torquay with her husband and two daughter’s Ivy, six, and Nancy, four, Katy saw the perfect opportunity to start her new venture.

“Since moving I realised there were no dance classes for preschoolers in Nailsworth,” she said.

“So, I went back to get my IDTA Diploma which enables you to put the children through grading exams.

“But I’m looking to make the classes really fun as well, because I know from experience that ballet can be quite strict, but your child will also follow the steps from the IDTA syllabus and then they will take an exam and then move up the next level.”

Katy is running the classes on a pay-as-you-go basis with each class costing £5.

She said: “I know from having my own girls that when you pay for a ten week term and your child is ill for a couple of weeks, then you’re paying to not have those classes and it can be financially hard, so we’re running this as a pay-as-you-go, so you only pay if you come.”

The classes are running on a Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday evening, Friday morning and all-day on Saturday, with 15 spaces allocated for each class, and 10 allocated for the ballet classes.

Katy also hopes to expand in the future.

“We’re happy to take on children and teenagers of all ages.

“We've had a couple of people ask about adult classes and that might be something we’ll do in the future once the children are settled, but getting the children settled first is the main thing," she said.

If you’re interested in booking a free taster class, contact Katy on 07976 523341.

For more information, visit the Facebook page: The Katy Walton Theatre Dance School.