A MUM from near York is living her dream after setting up her own dance and musical theatre school, which is proving to be a success.

This time last year, Jess Hardcastle, 39, of Dunnington, was juggling a full-time day job in marketing with being a mum to three young boys, and her beloved hobby - choreographing musical theatre shows - remained just that.

Then, last November, yearning to follow her passion for musical theatre, Jess took a leap of faith. She left the security of her job as a marketing manager at a food company and in January, Jazz Hands Dance and Musical Theatre School was born.

Its aim is to provide a modern, fun dance environment with a focus on performance.

Jess said: “These past six months have seen me leave a steady job, lose a stone in weight from exercising more and gain a business that is rewarding, inspiring for the young people and adults involved and that allows me to spend more time with my own children.”

Earlier this month, hundreds of people packed into the Hive Theatre, at York’s Manor School, to watch Jazz Hands first ‘mini showcase’.

Performers aged five to over 60 from all over York took part in the show that included numbers from The Greatest Showman, Trolls soundtrack and new musical hit Hamilton.

Jess was overwhelmed by the positive comments that the show received.

To anyone considering abandoning their day job for follow their dream, she said: “I would encourage anyone to ‘take the leap’ and pursue their own career path doing something they truly love”.

Leesa Collinge whose two children attend JAZZ HANDS classes said:  “Jess is the best thing that’s ever happened to York bringing such a brilliant fun musical theatre group that’s affordable to all parents.” 

Jess is no stranger to the York musical theatre scene. She has been a choreographer and director for York Stage Musicals (YSM) for the past ten years having choreographed large-scale shows at the Grand Opera House such as Rock of Ages, The Producers and directed shows such as Hairspray, YSM’s biggest grossing show to date.

She has also performed lead roles for YSM in shows such as Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Billy Liar and Brassed Off.

Jess attended Evelyn Witcombe School of Dance in York until she was 18, studying ballet, tap and modern/jazz dance.

She then took various classes across Leeds and York and joined St Aelred’s Players where she became their resident director/choreographer for 10 years. She gained a Community Dance Leaders’ award via York City Council in 2006 that gave her the basic skills to run dance sessions safely with different community groups and allowed her to become a member of the Guild of Professional Teachers of Dance, Drama and Movement.

Jess believes that dance classes should be fun and inclusive for all. Jazz Hands covers a range of modern dance styles from street, jazz to lyrical dance, but all with a musical theatre twist.

Its next venture will be a ‘show in a week’ during the first week of the summer holidays in July that will be produced in collaboration with newly launched York Stage School.

Young people aged seven to 18 will create their own show based around the songs from ‘The Greatest Showman’ culminating in a performance for parents.

Jess has three sons - Joseph, aged eight, five-year-old Isaac, and Theo, aged three. She runs classes in Dunnington, New Earswick, Elvington and Bugthorpe.