Paula Goodyear...

Teachers - Paula’s Page

As a young girl of 13 Paula Smith learnt to dance Latin & Ballroom in the teenage class at the 'Goodyear School of Dancing' in Bath and was taught by Anthony Goodyear. Dancing soon became a passion and she took ISTD medals and gradually became more and more involved. Three years later, aged 16, Paula left school and was about to enter a career in banking when she was offered a position as a Student Dance Teacher by Anthony at the Dance school, which she accepted. At the age of 17 she became Head Assistant and at times was left to run a very busy dance school! The Goodyear School of Dancing flourished and was at a later date renamed The Bath DanceCentre by which time Paula had gained an enormous amount of experience teaching social dancers, medallists, competitors and professionals, and running social dances and competitions.

During the sixties Anthony and Paula partnered up and had a very successful competition career, becoming third in the world Latin American, seventh in Ballroom, and were one of Great Britain's Ten Dance Champions representing Great Britain in all major championships. They travelled the world competing, demonstrating, lecturing and adjudicating and in 1976 they were married. In 1997, due to Anthony's ill health she became principal of the Bath DanceCentre, which is now in its 44th year.

Since retiring from competitions Paula has adjudicated the British Championships, both Adults and Juniors, on several occasions.

She is a Fellow and Examiner in Ballroom, Latin American, and Club Dance. and in DFR and Licentiate in Rock 'n' Roll, She is an ISTD Ballroom Committee member and has been so for over 20 years. She loves all aspects of the dancing business and is greatly involved in teaching dance at the Bath Dance Centre and the Bath University where she has a very good relationship with the students.

Why the Club loves Paula...

Paula has a wonderful way of teaching, making lessons interesting and easy to follow for all. That said, it does sometimes take a few tries before we manage them and many club members would agree that she has an amazing knack of meeting your eye with a smile when you make a mistake!

She has been teaching at Bath for a good 20 years now and even manages to accompany us to some competitions we attend, a great encouragement for all those involved. Mountains of patience and good humour means her lessons offer a moment for us students to let go and have fun, and just to enjoy learning to dance!