FRIENDS and family joined pupils past and present for the 50th anniversary celebrations of one of Britain's oldest Irish dance schools.
Located in the Midlands, Birmingham's Kidd School of Irish Dance has gone from strength to strength under the guidance of founder Annie Kidd.
Annie is the main principle of the school and is still extremely active, teaching three to four times a week.
Over the years the Kidd School of Irish Dance has enjoyed much success - winning titles including everything from All-Ireland to World Championships as well as achieving British and regional status.
Meanwhile some of the school's past pupils have performed in shows including Riverdance and Lord of the Dance.
The Kidd dance school is family run, with Annie and daughters Siobhán and Fiona at the helm.
"We love her very much and are so proud to have her as a mother and a role model," Fiona said.
"She is a strong lady, very well respected worldwide in the industry. The dancing community has been her life, it's what's and kept her going the last 50 years in all the bad times and hard times."
Dublin-born Annie Kidd came to Birmingham at the age of 10 and began Irish dancing lessons with Mauretta and Bobby Amstrong at the Colmcille School, firstly at Nazareth House and then at the Harp and the Shamrock Club.
Mauretta, an Irish dance legend in the Midlands and beyond, was a hard taskmaster but Annie was never put off by that.
She enjoyed many years dancing at the Colmcille School where and had an extremely successful dancing career. Sadly Mauretta passed away this year.
"Mum was sad she not here to celebrate our 50 years event," said daughter Fiona. "Mauretta has always attended all the Kidd School events as the pair remained close friends."
Also sadly missing on the night was Annie's husband Leo, who passed away in 1989. Originally from Dungiven in the North of Ireland, he was a sociable character, strong golfer and amazing singer.
Annie first started teaching in 1964 at the Abby school in Erdington.
Since then she has gone on to become a renowned teacher and adjudicator at dance competitions around the world. Today she is teaching in different venues across Birmingham from Sheldon, Solihull, Erdington, Sutton Coldfield, Edgbaston and Selly Park.
And it looks like the Kidd tradition is set to continue, with the school's talented up-and-coming students including Annie's six grandchildren - nieces Róisín, Keavy and Auriela and nephews Rory, Leo and Rex.
Pictures by Chris Egan
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