A MOTHER and daughter duo have celebrated the 25th anniversary of their dance shop and studio.

Heather and Sue Henderson from Darlington set up Born to Dance in 1989.

The pair celebrated a successful 25 years in business with family and friends on Friday, July 4.

The business began after Sue lost her father, Gordon.

It gave her the idea to start a business she felt was missing from the community and tie together a personal passion with a business venture.

Sue, 51, and her mother are joint owners of the business, although 74-year-old Heather is now semi-retired and not as active in the business.

Sue, a dancer herself from the age of three, said: “I wanted to start a business that I was interested in, dance was very limited.”

Born to Dance has certainly thrived over the years moving from Parkgate to Northgate, Darlington and expanding into a dance studio three years after opening.

Born to Dance now boasts 200 strong students and teaches ballet, tap, lyrical and modern.

Born to Dance is now the only dance shop in Northgate, Darlington.

Sue is determined to keep the business going in the face of online competition in supplying the demand for the dance studio.