Ashleigh keeps dancing Buddies on their toes!

Oct 2 2008 by Lynn Jolly, Paisley Daily Express

PAISLEY’S award-winning Barr family have been keeping Buddies on their toes at their dance school for three generations.

And 26-year-old Ashleigh Barr has just added to the family’s dazzling display of trophies by being named Young Professional of the Year.

Ashleigh, who recently moved from Paisley to Renfrew, was given the top accolade this week in Birmingham at the ADFP (Association of Dance & Freestyle Professionals) annual congress.

She flew the flag for Scotland and follows in her well-known grandad Bobby, mum Sharon and aunt Bonnie’s footsteps.

Ashleigh, who is delighted to keep the family tradition going, told us: “I was really shocked to win and didn’t expect to get it.

“ I was the only Scot nominated in that age group.

“I am chuffed to bits because the kids really work hard.

“I have been dancing since I was two-years-old, and was actually in my first show when I couldn’t walk!

“I was dressed as a white cat and pushed onto the stage in my baby walker at Paisley Town Hall by my mum and aunt.

“It is really great to be able to keep up the family tradition of dancing.”

Ashleigh has been teaching dance since she was 17 and covers many styles including the traditional tap, modern, jazz and ballet.

She also puts kids through their paces in boys’ street dance and freestyle disco at the YMCA in Paisley.

Her talented Bobby Barr, now 89, kick-started his dancing career in New York at the prestigious Fred Astaire Dance School in the late 1940s.

And when he returned home to Scotland he opened a dance studio in Paisley’s High Street.

Decades of dance followed and Bonnie joined him in 1973 to teach all the latest styles to boogie-mad Buddies.

Bobby was the man for ballroom and Latin America, while his daughter Bonnie’s expertise in tap, modern, ballet and majorettes completed the picture. Bonnie’s younger sister Sharon – Ashleigh’s mum – came on board with her nifty footwork four years later.

And, since then, thousands of youngsters and adults have learned how to step out in style thanks to the family.

The business is now called Dance Dreams and yesterday Bonnie said: “Ashleigh got the award the day she turned 26.

“Over the year a committee of experienced professionals monitor the young professionals achievements.

“Ashleigh got two World Championship and three British Championship winners under her belt this year.

She also teaches at the YMCA in Paisley and other parts of the town, and has done really well teaching choreography.

“Her branch of Dance Dreams is in Falkirk and has become very successful over the past few years.

“My dad is 90 in May and is still doing a bit of guest speaking.

“He is as sharp as a button and pops into the YMCA on a regular basis.”

Two of Ashleigh’s big winners were Hayley Jade Keys, from Renfrew, who won the Under Six section at the World Championship in June and Emily Crow, from Paisley, who picked up the Classic Dance Award and was unbeaten in 2007/2008.

Ashleigh’s two youngers sistersCourtney, 15, and Carly, 13, and Bonnie’s daughter Hayley, 13, are also showing promise.

And Bonnie’s husband David is also a teacher in Falkirk.

He specialises in ballroom and Latin American steps, and also helps Ashleigh out at show times.