A FLASH dance mob outside a town centre supermarket proved a fitting send –off for a Swindon Dance Stalwart this week.

Swindon Dance Founder and artistic director Marie McCluskey MBE hung up her dance shoes after 36 years at the helm of the Town Hall based- school.

And twinkle-toed dancers past and present ensured her penultimate night was one to remember when they surprised her with a carefully choreographed routine outside Regents Circus Morrisons.

Marie was only told she was going for staff drinks at Rudi’s but much to her amazement a stage spectacular was being performed just outside the window.

Stunned Marie was met by the sight of 200 of her beloved Swindon Dance students past and present strutting their stuff outside.

“I didn’t notice for about two or three minutes then I couldn’t believe it,” Marie said.

“I was very moved, I held myself in. It brought all these memories flooding back and seeing all these different dance moves with people putting their own twists on it made me feel very proud.

“I saw the community arts officer for entertainment swinging round a lamppost which was completely surreal. I couldn’t believe they had done it for me.

“It made me feel that I had achieved everything I had wanted to, I felt now it was the right time after seeing that.”

Hundreds of dancers congregated outside Morrisons Regents Circus and the Central Library with shoppers leaving with bags of groceries met with the unique sight of the carefully choreographed routine.

Marie established Swindon Dance in 1979 and led the organisation from its beginnings in the Community Arts Department of Swindon Borough Council through to its transition to an independent charitable trust in 2005.

Thousands of young dancers have realised their dreams and potential under Marie’s tutelage

After 36 years at the helm of one of the country’s pioneering dance organisations, Marie said she is looking forward to a much-needed break.

“I will still be involved with dance but it’s time for me to take a step back now and enjoy some time off.”

Marie said she will forever treasure the memories of the past 36 years.

“Seeing people having their lives transformed through the extraordinary power of dance will stay with me. Even if they didn’t become dancers, it changed their life in some way,” she said.

The organisation has been supported for more than three decades by Swindon Borough Council. It was awarded National Dance Agency Status in 1991 by the Arts Council of England and is currently a National Portfolio Organisation of the Arts Council.

Since 2005 Swindon Dance has received support as a Centre of Advanced Training in Dance for exceptionally talented young dancers, through the Department for Education’s Music and Dance Scheme.