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 Nicky Bentley |
Woman who helped the stars dance dies at 48
NICKY Bentley, a dance teacher and choreographer to the stars who worked from a Covent Garden studio for more than 25 years, has died, aged 48.
The enigmatic teacher was best known for developing her own inimitable style of street jazz, attracting a wide variety of students to her classes at the Pineapple studios and choreographing artists including Cliff Richard, S Club 7, Dannii Minogue, Lulu and the Sugababes.
Ms Bentley was born in Bristol before leaving for London in the 1980s. She cut her teeth under the erstwhile Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips and kept teaching right until her death from cancer, despite obvious discomfort.
Her deputy Mark James said he believes she will go down in history as a true pioneer.
Mr James said there are more than a few “wooden-legged” celebrities who can be grateful to Ms Bentley for making them look fleet footed in music video dance routines.
Former students will miss the diminutive dancer for her offbeat sense of humour and Christmas-themed classes, where she would insist on everyone dressing up before carrying on the party at nearby Cosmos restaurant. It wasn’t unheard of for Ms Bentley’s raucous routines to continue through to dessert.
A huge Michael Jackson fan, she was a face at many of Covent Garden’s eateries, nipping across to Frank’s in Neal Street for a pre-class bacon sandwich and finishing off her sessions with a burger and cigarette in Maxwell’s.
Other notable Pineapple alumni include Status Quo and Hayley Westenra, both of whom were subjected to her sweat-inducing dress code – legwarmers and dance pants on top of lycra.
Ms Bentley was a keen antiques enthusiast. She was a regular in the Surrey antiques shops near where she lived, and it was a brave person who interrupted her favourite armchair activity; the Antiques Roadshow.
Ms Bentley is survived by her composer husband Mark Sayer-Wade, and her four children Tobias, Joshua, Storm and Fabian. |
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