A dance teacher who taught thousands of students, including some that went onto Strictly Come Dancing, is closing her studio after nearly 24 years.

Margaret Preedy, from Maidstone, has decided to sell her property in Tonbridge Road and retire to the island of Sicily.

The 61-year-old says it is the “end of an era” as she has stopped taking on new admissions, but agreed the time is right.

“I want to be able to explore, travel and enjoy life before I get too old,” she said.

“That was the purpose of buying this building – to work for 20-odd years so I could earn enough money to comfortably retire.

“We never really had holidays; we just worked all the time. But don’t get me wrong, I loved it.”

She added: “It has been very difficult. I get to the stage sometimes when I'm here and I just want to go.

“Other times, I think it's going to be really sad to not do this now. My overall feeling is I'm ready.”

Her father, Peter Preedy, opened up a Ballroom and Latin American dance school in 1948.

Over the years they moved to different venues across Maidstone, including the former Conservative Club on Earl Street, the Hazlitt Theatre and a studio on Brewer Street.

Margaret left St Simon Stock Catholic School at 16 and started working at NatWest in the town.

She also spent three evenings a week teaching at her parent’s studio.

After working in London for some time, she became a self-employed dance instructor.

“It got to a stage where I thought I can't keep doing this and I took the plunge,” she explained.

“I left and said if it doesn't work I'll go back and get a ‘proper job’ – but it never happened.

“I always found a way and developed from there. Professionals from all over the world used to come to us to be taught.”

Her father eventually retired from dancing and died in March 2021 at 99 years old.

Margaret’s mother, Anne Lingard, continued as a dance teacher.

She is still an examiner today at the age of 92.

In August 2000, Margaret opened her own studio in Tonbridge Road, which was previously Oakleaf Social Club.

The building is Grade II listed, initially built in the 1800s and was owned by the Fremlin family.

She spent six weeks cleaning the place, which had “fallen to pieces” and restored it with the addition of an impact-absorbing sprung dance floor.

At one stage she says she was teaching seven days a week, with more than 400 adults and 350 children on the roster.

One of which was a young James Jordan, who went on to become a ballroom dancer and choreographer.

The 46-year-old from Gillingham also married his training partner Ola Jordan and have a daughter together called Ella.

He appeared as a professional on Strictly Come Dancing from 2006 to 2013 and participated in the fourteenth series of Celebrity Big Brother.

“I've trained many of the pupils that have come through the school and gone on to make their living in dancing,” Margaret added.

“It's been a great asset for a lot of them. I've done so much and I'm so proud of what I've done.”

For the first five years of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, Margaret trained many of the professionals and celebrities.

She also appeared on the spin-off programme It Takes Two and her studio was used in numerous rehearsals for the show.

Alongside her dancing career, Margaret launched Rianos Party and Wedding Venue in 2002 – hosting countless events.

Now after 76 years – teaching thousands of students alongside her parents and at her own studio – she has decided to call it a day.

Margaret plans on moving to Sicily in Italy with her husband Paul, who is a builder.

They have bought and renovated a dilapidated building near Noto Antica, a former city that was destroyed by the earthquake in January 1693.

The pair initially booked a holiday to the island on a whim and immediately “fell in love with it”.

It is where they now plan to spend their retirement.

Margaret added: “I love seeing people enjoying themselves, but it’s getting to the stage where it is just too much hard work before and afterwards.

“Because of Covid and the cost of living, it’s just not viable. The fuel bill is extortionate now.

“It was hard, but the time is right."

Continuing on her legacy is her 31-year-old son, Joe, who has opened a dance studio in Hackney Wick, London, with his husband Connor.

Margaret is currently in the process of selling the property on Tonbridge Road.