Decades after it last had 'happy feet' tapping on its boards, the old Wombwell Baths has reopened as a dance school.
Rachel Whitham, 36, is opening Rachel's Academy of Dance in the former baths, using rooms at the front of the building and the 'little baths' with mirrored dance rooms.
Rachel has been teaching dance she was 14 and started her own school at the age of 18, after a youth winning a number of competitions, studying at dance college and representing the Independent Dance Teaching Association.
A Penistone resident, she most recently taught at Worsbrough community centre and will continue to teach at Cawthorne on Thursdays.
She added she understood many people in Wombwell were upset by the closure of the baths but hoped resurrecting one of its former uses, as well as the building's refurbishment, would be some recompense.
The Edwardian building was closed in June 2011 in a dilapidated state following a financial crisis at council-funded Barnsley Premier Leisure, which required an additional £723,000 to keep the baths open another ten years.
It was purchased by Kelvin Shaw, of Hemingfield Road, who renovated the exterior and interior of the building and converted part of it into a flat.
An open day for Rachel's Academy will be held on November 9 between 10am and 4pm.
For more information, call 397037 or 07947 775636.
