THE life of a woman who first set the feet of Swindon’s children dancing 60 years ago is to be the subject of a documentary by one of her former pupils.

Film maker Mellissa Lo, who still dances as a hobby, is aiming to raise £3,500 through Kickstarter to record the documentary on Estelle School of Dance founder Patricia Bennett.

She said: “She has been a huge inspiration so I wanted to come back and tell her story.”

The former computer science student found she loved film making and went on to do a Master’s degree in the subject at Goldsmith’s in London where she met Tom Fuller, her director of photography.

Together they have made several fiction films which have been screened at film festivals and the Edinburgh Fringe. One of her films won a Wharf Academy Award.

Estelle is her debut documentary and so far she has raised £600 towards the cost of making it.

Mellissa said: “Miss Bennett has taught, supported and inspired generations of dancers. As she approaches the school’s 60th anniversary she is still teaching classes of all ages, choreographing entire theatre shows and pantomimes, designing costumes and raising money for charities and her local community.”

Patricia said: “I think it’s quite a nice idea.” She added that she was a bit of an Alfred Hitchcock because she always appeared in the dance school’s show. “I always like that side of it because I can hide behind the character.

For anyone wanting to help the project, Estelle, A Dance Documentary can be found on kickstarter.com