Delighted mum is dancing on air after securing foothold in revitalised town centre

A businesswoman is dancing on air after winning a competition for a Dovercourt town centre shop unit.

TLC Dancewear sells a range of high-quality activewear to ensure dancers feel their best whether they are rehearsing or performing.

Kelly Gansbuhler started the business from a shed in her back garden after experiencing difficulty in finding good dancewear for her talented daughters Tilly, 18, and Laney, 13, who have achieved national dance success.

Kelly, who is also mum to Charlie, 16, said: “When it came to finding basics like jazz shoes or dancewear, there was nowhere locally to go. With dance shoes, you need to try them on as the shoes come up differently to normal shoes and it is important to get the right size and fit.

“I had thought about starting the business for a while and I decided to go for it after lockdown in 2021. Now I provide the uniforms for a number of dance schools in the area.”

Kelly, 46, of Languard View, has her roots firmly in Dovercourt having moved to the area when she was 12 after spending holidays in a caravan in the seaside resort.

The new business will be at 244 High Street, and it is due to open at the beginning of April. Kelly added: “I think Dovercourt is a lovely town centre and I think a dance shop will bring a different vibe to it. I already have customers from as far afield as Sudbury and Colchester and now they will be coming into the town and hopefully will use other shops too.”

The competition for the shop space is part of the £737,000 High Street Accelerator Programme and the prize includes a 12-month rent-free lease and a grant to revamp the unit.

TLC Dancewear was chosen by a panel of judges as part of the ongoing rejuvenation project. They included Paul Milsom, Managing Director of Milsom Hotels and Restaurants and Chairman of the Harwich and Dovercourt Tourism Group, Mike Carran, Assistant Director of Economic Growth and Leisure at Tendring District Council, Barbara Pole, Economic Growth & Enterprise Manager at Tendring District Council, and Ivan Henderson, Deputy Leader of Tendring District Council and portfolio holder for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Tourism.

Cllr Henderson added: “We are delighted to be able to offer a helping hand to this homegrown business. Kelly has demonstrated drive and determination to make her business a success.

“TLC Dancewear will add another dimension to the retail offering in the town centre and I am sure it will bring more people into the main shopping area which can only be good for the other businesses too. We are thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity to Kelly and boost our ongoing plans to revitalise Dovercourt town centre.”

The High Street Accelerator Programme is a national scheme backed by £7 million of government funding. Dovercourt is one of 10 pilot schemes to receive some of the funding and the cash will be used to make the High Street more attractive for people to visit and spend their spare time in.

Grant funding has been invested in improving Dovercourt town centre shops, creating a new website, upgrading CCTV and commissioning eye-catching banners to give the town a distinct identity.