A bit of history!
Origins of the school
Originally opened in 1945 as the ‘Sargent School of Dancing’, the school was run by the Sargent family with Miss Yvette, Miss Daphne and Miss Wendy; the latter being twins.
My early days at the school
When I first attended the school in 1971 the school had just moved to Berkhampstead Road, Chesham where the health centre now stands. The school boasted barres, a small dressing room and an outside toilet! During the mid-70s Miss Mavis Butler joined Miss Yvette to run the prestigious Sargent and Butler School of Dancing. Miss Butler lived in Portsmouth and commuted weekly bringing to the school a wealth of tap and modern dance. This then gave me and many other pupils a very strong training in Ballet, Modern, Tap and National and also an inside toilet!
1980s
Miss Butler retired from the school in the early 80s to spend more time in Portsmouth. Miss Yvette’s niece had no wish to teach, her nephew Guy Niblett was already dancing with the Royal Ballet… so it just left me to help with the school. By 1985 and now qualified in four branches of dance, I had shown enough care and strength to be handed the school to continue running it on the same guidelines – so the school became the Sargent and Plester school. I always kept the name in respect for Yvette Sargent, who with Miss Butler gave me the best training I could have wanted.
21st century!
Several years ago I moved the school to Newtown School and then with Samantha Vale by my side (as an ex-pupil) looking to have more space and to start street dance, I secured our move to White Hill Centre where we are today.
With strong and loyal staff I hope to continue the school onwards and upwards. Miss Mavis Butler has sadly died but I am sure looks down on us checking the tap and modern dance.
Miss Yvette Sargent sadly died in 2019 but the name of the School will always remain. Many of your parents and grandparents may have attended the school and remember her training! Not what would happen today!
The school continues to provide the pupils with all the tools of the trade.