History World of Dance - How It All Began by Fiona Soulsby In 1929 a 9 year old girl – Barbara Evelyn Naylor, was diagnosed by her Doctor with Pleurisy & Double Pneumonia and her parents were told she would “be dead by 17”. A second opinion was sought and a “go-ahead” young Doctor suggested Barbara could make a total recovery if she had a radical change of diet and, when sufficiently strong enough, took up regular ballet classes.This was my mother and the rest, as they say, is history. Barbara’s love of dance blossomed – first ballet, then tap, modern musical & even acrobatics although tap and acrobatics were forbidden by her ballet mistresses Madames Thamara Casarvna and Judith Espinosa (the latter at that time was teaching a young Margot Fonteyn). Barbara loved them all, though I suspect ballet was her first love! By her late teens she had already performed at the “Royal Opera House” – Covent Garden. Then in 1939 came the 2nd World War and she joined ENSA (Entertainments National Service Association) set up in conjunction with the British Government to provide entertainment for armed forces personnel. It was then in 1946, upon leaving ENSA, that my mother set up the “Barbara Lynn School of Dancing” in Southfields. The school soon flourished and gained an excellent reputation for winning many Festival Trophies in the South of England and for its variety Shows, called ‘Dancing Through’, which were popular and well attended. As if this were not enough Barbara took on the choreography of both Wimbledon and Weymouth Pantomimes and also formed her own Cabaret Troupe called “The Glamourettes”. She was much in demand and worked professionally with many well known names including Norman Wisdom, Sid James, Barbara Windsor, John Hartdyke, Roy Hudd, John Inman and Roy Castle to name but a few. She also doubled for Margaret Lockwood in the film “The Scarlet Lady”. In 1980 Barbara retired and moved to Norfolk where she lived a very quiet life with her husband Alan (my father) and 5 cats. She remained in Norfolk after my father’s death until 2003 when she died peacefully at the ripe old age of 83. We all owe much to my mum, Barbara! "Dance is music made visible" - George Balanchine |
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