A WIRRAL dance teacher who toured the world during a career spanning more than 50 years in showbusiness has hung up her tap shoes for good.
Julia Whitehead gave her final class for The Adult Tappers at Higher Bebington United Reformed Church on Tuesday, which ended with a farewell party.
Julia - who gave me my first role with the Port Sunlight Players in 1997, as Sowerberry in a production of Oliver! - told the Globe: "I have been teaching the group for many years, some of them have been with me for 20 years. I'm going to miss them."
The well-known and loved actress and theatrical producer 'retired' in 2018, but was still involved in local theatre producing her final show, marking the Port Sunlight Players Centenary in March.
But retirement could not be further from Julia's mind and she is busier than ever.
She runs a murder mystery group called The Red Herrings, whose productions have raised thousands of pounds for charity over the years.
She also gives talks on her career to various audiences and teaches drama to disabled children.
She has produced, costumed and choreographed shows for many of the local amateur operatic/dramatic societies and written many pantomimes for the Port Sunlight Players, who she joined in 1962 and is still regularly called on by theatre groups to help with costume supply.
Julia said: "You never really retire in this business, never really give up. There's always something to do and I still enjoy it."
Looking back on a career that has included performances on stages across and also saw her caught up in a country's revolution, Julia added: "I have worked with so many fantastic people over the years, many of whom have become great friends.
"If I had the chance to do it all again, I certainly would."
Julia was born in Waterloo, Liverpool, and at the age of 12 passed an audition for a place at Sadler's Wells Ballet School, which is now the Royal Ballet School.
A year later she changed to the Italia Conti Stage School.
After graduating she secured a film with Ronald Shiner, and a Christmas production of Where the Rainbow Ends with Donald Houston and Johnny Briggs (later to find fame as Coronation Street's Mike Baldwin).
Returning home to Waterloo to have her tonsils removed, Julia appeared in Pantomime at the Liverpool Shakespeare Theatre, followed by a summer season in Blackpool with stars of the day; comedian Max Bygraves, comedy actress Hylda Baker and pianist Winifred Attwell.
Then came pantomimes and summer season in Bournemouth, Yarmouth and back to Bournemouth as a member of the internationally-renowned Tiller Girls troupe.
It was there that Miss Bluebell spotted Julia from the audience, and picked her to become a Bluebell Girl on a ten-month tour of South America.
In Buenos Aires, she was caught up in the revolution with President Peron; bombs and tanks in the streets, shooting and burning buildings.
The dancers were kept in a church hall and then taken back to their hotel once the President was back in control.
After South America Julia spent sixteen months dancing in Spain then six months at the Windmill in London with entertainment legend Bruce Forsythe.
Next, it was off to Canada and on to New York dancing with the Rockettes at the Radio City Music Hall.
Along with a Canadian girl she headed for Las Vegas working with Tony Bennett, Johnny Ray, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Jayne Mansfield, Pat Boone, and many other stars.
In a kicking routine, she found herself next to Marlene Dietrich, with strict instructions that she was not to kick her leg higher than the star. On another occasion, she was within touching distance of Elvis!
Returning home in 1961 Julia started her dancing school firstly in Waterloo and then after marriage in Eastham.
When the Civic Centre opened in Bebington she was one of the first to hire rooms there, as well as locations in New Ferry and Rock Ferry.
Her work, for more than 50 years teaching dance to all ages was recognised in 2016 with an invitation to Buckingham Palace.
Paying tribute to Julie, Angela Adams who is a member of The Adult Tappers taught by Julia, said: "She's very well known in Wirral and beyond.
"She’s trained dancers who’ve gone on to successful careers on the stage, and yet is a most unassuming and modest person, herself.
"Julie is a real professional, having been a member of the famous Tiller Girls with whom she travelled the world, and when the time came to settle down, has taught dance to generations of Wirral grandmothers, mothers and daughters.
"She has written and produced many musicals, shows, and pantomimes locally, and has a fund of stories to tell about her life.
"Not surprisingly, members of her family have gone into show business, too."
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