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The History

The dancewarehouse is owned by Martin & Carol Cutler, former UK professional 10 dance champions, 3rd in Worlds Open 10 Dance Championships, with numerous other prestigious titles under their belts. They stopped competing when Carol was pregnant with their first child, Charlotte, and decided to concentrate their efforts on opening a studio to coach both social and competitive couples.

Martin & Carol with John Knight, former president of the IDTA; their coach and good friend

This first studio, named MCC Dance and Leisure centre, opened 1988 in a small church hall in Catherine-de-Barnes, Solihull. It is at this early point that Martin & Carol were joined by Elaine as an assistant teacher, whilst Claire, Marie & Sarah all walked through the doors to join their first ever children’s’ class.

Within 6months, it was already apparent that a larger studio would be needed as class sizes where far exceeding capacity. By the end of ’88 the bulldozers were in, and construction on a new studio, Encore began. It was at this point that Jaqui Davis joined the team with her partner Mark Paton as well as there being another addition to the Cutler family, Jamie.

MCC Dance & Leisure

MCC Dance & Leisure Social

Space

The end of MCC Dance & Leisure

Carol & Charlotte during Construction of Encore

The Cutlers spent 15years at Encore, again reaching the point where class size began to exceed capactiy. This is when the ambitious venture of running both a competitive and social centre in two seperate studios on the same plot began. In October 2003 Martin and Carol’s school was again relocated, now becoming the dancewarehouse as it is today. This move was originally meant to be temporary, but finding the location for the improved studio proved more difficult than expected being plagued with misfortunes and planning disputes. Despite this, the dream for the Cutlers never wavered, and finally, in November 2009 planning permission was granted to develop the ‘chicken sheds’ into a National Dance Centre, open to all, offering all types of dance from Ballroom & Latin to Hip-Hop. The centre will be made up of two buildings, one specially designed with competitors in mind, the other with social dancers in mind. Floor space will more than rival any training floors in England, whilst facilities will exceed any expectations.

Martin with Charlotte, Jamie and a pupil during Encore themed evening

The dancewarehouse

Work on this new centre should begin next year, if all goes to plan, but no-one is counting their chickens yet.

“It is testament to Martin & Carol and the friendly atmosphere they create in their studios that over half the pupils of their very first class still regularly come to the studio for lessons, whilst 3 of the ‘toddlers’ from their first children’s class are now qualified teachers working with them.”

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