Pineapple Dance Studios
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2010) |
 | |
| Formation | 1979 |
|---|---|
| Type | Dance Centre |
| Purpose | Educational |
| Headquarters | 7 Langley Street Covent Garden London WC2H 9JA United Kingdom |
| Location |
|
Director | Debby Moore |
| Website | http://www.pineapple.uk.com/ |
Pineapple Dance Studios is a dance studio complex based in the Covent Garden area of central London, England. It was founded by the English model and businesswoman Debbie Moore in 1979. The studio is used for castings and rehearsals by dance companies, record labels, television networks, film studios,[1] West End shows, cruise lines, talent[2] and model agencies. According to BBC London, it is "one of the world's premier dance studios".[3] Ballet.co.uk called it a "mecca for dancers".[4]
The studios are primarily a venue for dance training.[citation needed] Pineapple Dance Studios has an associated clothing brand. Pineapple Dance Studios are commonly referred to simply as Pineapple.[citation needed]
History
Origins
Pineapple Dance Studios was founded by the English model and businesswoman Debbie Moore. Having retired from modelling, a sudden weight gain led Moore to be diagnosed with an underactive thyroid.[citation needed] After her first marriage ended, she gained three stone and started dancing to stay in shape.[5] The Covent Garden dance studios she was attending closed in 1979 and she bought a former pineapple warehouse on Langley Street,[citation needed] in Covent Garden, where she set up Pineapple Dance Studios.[5]
Clothing brand
Having been regularly employed by the clothing and textiles company Courtaulds, Moore was also experienced in clothing design and manufacture. [citation needed] During the early 1980s, she began developing her own line of dance-wear,[citation needed] most notably using Lycra, which at that time was not a widely used fabric. She sold her designs through a shop at the dance studios and this ultimately lead to the formation of the Pineapple clothing brand.[citation needed] The Pineapple brand now retails dance-inspired clothing through 12 sites in the UK and in 2000, Moore secured a deal with the Debenhams chain of department stores, who now retail Pineapple branded products worldwide.[citation needed]
Louie Spence and Debbie Moore launched the Pineapple Eye-wear range of glasses on 4 August 2010 at Pineapple Dance Studios.[6]
Documentary
A docusoap following Pineapple Studios and its employees such as Louie Spence and Andrew Stone were first shown on 14 February 2010 on Sky1. With narration by ex-BBC newsreader Michael Buerk, it was a documentary that included impromptu dancing and the promotional tag-line: "Pineapple Dance Studios: Where careers are made, dreams are broken, bitching is an Olympic sport and everyone is fabulous!".[citation needed]
Although the documentary series will not be returning, production company Pulse Films are currently shooting a follow up series which follows a broader spectrum of people as they attempt to break into the world of show-business. The second series was recorded under the title Louie Spence's Showbusiness and aired in early 2011 on Sky One, with repeats on PickTV in early 2012.
References
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3330305.stm Article from BBC News about auditions being held at Pineapple for the Harry Potter film series
- ^ http://www.itnews.it/news/2007/0710100002582/universal-studios-japan-tm-looking-for-more-uk-talent.html Article from IT News about Universal Studios Japan holding talent auditions at Pineapple Studios
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2007/01/10/dance_get_involved_feature.shtml BBC article citing Pineapple as a world famous dance studio
- ^ http://www.ballet.co.uk/magazines/yr_01/oct01/ml_pineapple_danceworks.htm Article from ballet.co.uk citing the popularity and reputation of Pineapple Studios
- ^ a b http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2002/aug/04/features.magazine117 Article from the Guardian newspaper citing the formation of the studios and that the site was previously a pineapple warehouse
- ^ http://www.pineappleeyewear.com/
External links
- Pineapple Dance Studios
- Pineapple Performing Arts School
- Pineapple Dance Studios - Documentary Characters and Photos