Dancia originated in Brighton
in 1947, when it became the first specialist dancewear shop to open
outside London. The present owners, Tim and Diane Kirkup, purchased
the business in 1983 and have developed it substantially. In addition
to traditional dance clothing and footwear, the merchandise range has
been broadened to include an impressive range of shoes for Ballroom,
Latin, Salsa, Jive and Argentine Tango and not forgetting Ballet
Dancia prides its self on the quality and range of products it stocks.
The staff are extensively trained and they believe that they offer the
best Pointe shoe fitting in the country.
Dancia
customers are served through a network of shops, mail order service
and personal visits to colleges and companies, supplying top West End
shows
and dance companies. They pride themselves on having fitted ballet
shoes on some of the best ballet dancers in the country.
The company has a head office in Portslade, just outside Brighton;
this is also the base for Gaynor Minden UK as Dancia are the UK distributors
of these revolutionary pointe shoes and lovely garments.
Dancia shops are located in London, Drury Lane; Epsom, Ewell Village; Brighton; Whetstone, North London, Edinburgh and Caversham, Reading. Most of these shops are franchises
and Dancia have the only dance shop franchise in the UK, giving people
the opportunity to become their own boss in the growth market
Diane Kirkup.
/ FRANCHISE DIRECTOR
Diane is effectively the founder of Dancia International. It was her
decision to acquire the original Dancia shop. Formerly a professional
ballet dance teacher and a nursery school principal, it was an obvious progression
for someone from a "family 
retail business background”. Her
main responsibilities include the researching of quality manufacturers,
developing new own brand garments and shoes, advertising and all aspects
of the franchise from interviewing prospective franchisers through to
a new shop opening!
Tim Kirkup, B.Sc. / MANAGING DIRECTOR
Tim is again from a family business background, a former civil engineer
who gave up that profession in 1984 to devote his full-time attention
to Dancia. He is responsible for financial management and it was he
who introduced computerized till and stock control systems throughout
our chain of stores.
Beverly Kirkup. /
Beverly is Tim and Diane's daughter. She trained as a ballet dancer at
the Legat School and on leaving was soon involved in the growing
business,
firstly in Brighton and then as manageress of the London Drury Lane
shop when it first opened. With time out teaching in Madrid and then
running her own business in the USA, Beverly has returned to Dancia.
With her energy and enthusiasm she has taken over much of the day to
day buying and also a franchisee herself!
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