Highland dancing queen Jill hands over to Sophie
She’s been dancing from the age of three and at just 18 launched her own Highland dance school. Now Jill Woodburn has had to hand over the reins at the age of 32– after her booming business put the freeze on it. But she is delighted the Cumnock Highland Dance school will continue with a new head, the awarding- winning champion dancer Sophie Oliver, 25. Jill has become the queen of ice cream in Ayrshire, running Woody’s Ice Cream from the family farm. She founded the dance school in 2002 and has put hundreds of girls – and a few boys – through their paces. Highland dance is tough and can be a painful discipline, and it is believed there are only two teaching classes left in Ayrshire.
But Jill has been at the forefront of transforming its obviously oldfashioned image.
Tartan outfits are sometimes ditched and routines adapted to pop tunes.
And at one time she even had four boys in the class at the same time.
Jill said: “I qualified as a teacher in 2002 and started the school as a hobby which quickly grew.
“The school I had danced with in Cumnock was closing down and I felt it would be a shame if we could not continue offering Highland dancing. I started with about 20 and the highest was 56 at any one time.”
Pupils were drawn in the main from Cumnock, New Cumnock, Ochiltree, Drongan, Coylton and Mauchline, and Jill has found it a wrench to say goodbye to her twice- a- week classes.
Over the years, the dancers have competed as well as enjoyed themselves at galas and events, including an international gathering at Disneyland in Paris.
Jill competed at a championship level all over Scotland until the age of 17 and was encouraged by her mum Hazel who she says is “her rock”.
She said: “It is a very traditional style and everything is done by the book, no freestyle.
“The trick has been to do the traditional dance to modern music. It wasn’t a business to me, it was a love and I continued it while I was a beauty therapist.
“It was so rewarding and I loved passing on my knowledge to keep Highland dancing alive. I could have a bad day at work and they go to the dancing and feel elated when I left.
“Unfortunately, my business has now taken over, but I feel I have left the school in good hands.
“Sophie is very passionate about it, running classes in Cumnock and Coylton. It means the future of Highland dancing in this part of Ayrshire is secure.”
Jill took over Woody’s Ice Cream from her dad Hugh three years ago, with the milk coming straight from the Ayrshire herd at Killoch Farm between Mauchline and Galston.
They produce more than 100 flavours with milk from about 200 cows, managed by Hugh and her brother Grant.
Jill said: “Every year we have got busier and we have rebranded and now sell our products in the south west, Glasgow and as far as Inverness. We have a new trailer and take it to events and weddings and our team is now five- strong. The future is looking great.”