A FORMER dance teacher from the North-East who once had the chance to join the Russian Ballet has died in New Zealand.

Joy Beadell nurtured hundreds of young dancers from her studio in Darlington for more than 40 years before emigrating to Auckland, New Zealand, in 1988.

She died peacefully on August 28 following a bout of pneumonia, aged 87.

Miss Beadell discovered dancing as a child when, after being struck down with the scarlet fever, her doctor advised her that dancing could aid her recovery. She unearthed a natural talent and continued dancing into her adult life.

When she was 18, Miss Beadell was accepted into the Russian Ballet, but with the Second World War looming, her mother refused to let her leave home.

She came to Darlington in 1947 with her husband, Dr John Bishop, whom she met at a show at Middlesbrough Empire. The pair settled in the Grange Road area, where they raised three children.

She became heavily involved with amateur dramatics, and regularly donated money to keep the Civic Theatre afloat. She became director and president of the Darlington Operatic Society and produced dance shows all around the region.

Greta Sanderson, present chairman of Darlington Operatic Society, yesterday paid tribute to her friend. She said: "She has been a tremendous inspiration to us all, she was a wonderful lady. She always commanded attention and always got the most out of everybody she taught. We would do anything for Joy if she asked us. She was a strong character but wonderful with it."

Dr Bishop died in 1963 and the couple's eldest child, Billy, died in 1973. In 1988, Miss Beadell moved to Auckland to be closer to son, Eoin, and daughter Fiona, and within weeks of her arrival had set up another dance school.

In 2002, she was honoured by the Royal Academy of Dance with the special president's award to mark the Queen's jubilee.

Mrs Sanderson said Miss Beadell was an important figure in Darlington's history and would be sorely missed.

"Hundreds of pupils appeared in her shows and even now, when I go to the Civic, many people come up to me to ask after Miss Beadell," she said. "She was very well-known, will be remembered and respected. She was just an unforgettable person."