Maureen Headford
Maureen was born in Bristol to parents who came from a very working class family, but who supported her interest in dance from an early age as best they could. Her father Morley Scofield was a painter and decorator but one of his most memorable achievements was to paint a full-length portrait of the Queen for the Bristol Festival of Remembrance Day at the Colston Hall. He also won the Evening Post Rose Bowl award for the best Designed Scenery, which he also built and painted for the production of “Cabaret” also at the Colston Hall Bristol. So from a very young age Maureen was closely involved with all aspect of theatre life.
When it became apparent that she had a special talent she joined The Bristol School Of Dancing under the watchful eye of Muriel Carpenter, Muriel Hoskins and Basil Patterson. Whilst at this school she was able to work in close relationship with members of the Bristol Old Vic, she has vivid memories of sitting during her lunch breaks and watching Julian Slade and Dorothy Reynolds writing the scrip for the now famous Musical, "Salad Days", of Peter O’Toole and Phyllida Law (the mother of the actress Emma Thompson) and many other now famous actors rehearsing their parts.
Whilst a student at the School she was chosen to join Western Theatre Ballet now the Scottish Ballet, under the direction of Liz West and Peter Darrell. She appeared in many Musicals playing the part of Liat in "South Pacific", Ado Anne in "Oklahoma" to mention just a few.
She was selected to appear on a weekly chat show for ATV Television that lasted for two years and also played small part in TV Drama’s appearing with Frank Finley In "!The Lie".
When she moved to Bournemouth to marry John Headford a very well know theatre actor and stage manager, she had two children, Julie and Stephen but also found herself in great demand as a chorographer and was engaged in this capacity by most of the Amateur Musical Societies for over 10 years, sometimes doing two musical production a year.
She was Chorographer for Stepham Bell Productions and choreographed three Pantomimes at the Pavilion Theatre Bournemouth working with great names like Roy Castle, Roy Hudd, Clive Dunn, Peggy Mount to name but a few.
She also was a fashion model for the Beales Store Bournemouth and the then Plummers Store. She was a photographic model, and made TV commercials. She also trained models for a local Bournemouth modelling agency.
It was during this period in her life that she discovered her love and talent for teaching. She approached The Wessex School of Dancing in Bournemouth where the teachers, Betty Collins and Ida Stewart agreed for her to join the full time college in order to gain her teaching qualifications with Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.
After opening the Stage Door School of Dancing in 1971 she has gone on to reach the status of an Examiner and works world wide in this capacity Over this period she has trained many thousands of children and hopes that they have, like her have gone on to achieve their dreams.
For more information please read the Schools CV.