“We would’ve grown old and grey together”: Dance fundraiser to honour beloved teacher who died aged 49
A husband has shared his heartbreak after losing the woman he thought he would “grow old and grey” beside lost her cancer battle
A heartfelt dance fundraiser is set to raise money for Weston Park Cancer Charity in memory of a much-loved dance teacher described by her husband as the woman he thought he would “grow old and grey” beside.
49-year-old Sylvia Senior, who died just over a year ago after being diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, had spent almost her entire life dancing after first stepping into the studio at just three years old.
By day she worked as a teacher, but evenings and weekends revolved around the dance world she adored.
Her husband, John, said: “Dance completely consumed her life. It wasn’t just something she did - it was who she was.”
The couple met on a night out in Doncaster in 2001, before going on to spend 22 years married together.
Recalling their first conversation, he said she told him she worked in a factory back then but dance was her passion.
“I asked her what she did for a living. She said, ‘I work in a factory in the day, but I’m a dance teacher,’” John said.
“That was the only job that ever really mattered to her. From that day, dance became part of my life too.”
A boxer and martial artist himself, he said the pair came from completely different worlds, but quickly became inseparable.
“We never had a cross word,” he said.
“If this hadn’t happened, we absolutely would’ve been that couple sat in the park one day, old and grey holding hands together.”
The couple’s 21-year-old daughter, Bailey Jo, has also continued following the path her mother inspired.
Having grown up in the dance world herself, she recently completed a degree in dance and musical theatre in London despite losing, as her father described it, “not just a mum, but her best friend and dance teacher too”.
“She said if she stopped university, she’d never go back, I’m incredibly proud of her for finishing her course,” John said.
Sylvia was initially taken to A&E after becoming seriously ill, before being transferred to Weston Park in Sheffield.
“Within hours she’d had a CT scan and I could tell from the consultant’s face it was bad news,” John said.
Despite enduring aggressive treatment - including periods of three consecutive days of chemotherapy - he said Sylvia faced everything with remarkable strength.
“I used to call her my warrior,” John said.
“She just took everything in her stride.”
The nickname soon spread among her friends in the dance world too.
During a short break from treatment, Sylvia had a tattoo done on her forearm featuring an infinity symbol, butterflies and the word “warrior”.
While Sylvia was close to her family, he said she often referred to her “dance family,” a tight-knit community of teachers, pupils and friends who meant everything to her.
“She taught children, helped them prepare for competitions, gave them pep talks backstage and looked after them all,” he said.
“She was a huge part of so many young dancers’ lives.”
The fundraiser is being organised by Sylvia’s lifelong best friend, Julie Harper, who runs the Ibberson School of Dance and had known her since childhood.
Before Sylvia died, the pair had spoken about holding a dance fundraiser for Weston Park after the care she received there.
“When she was diagnosed, they agreed they’d do a fundraiser together,” her husband said.
“Sadly, she didn’t make it long enough to see it happen, but Julie promised her she would get it done.
“I can’t say enough good things about Weston Park, and we want to give back.”
The event will bring together dance schools in the area that had performed and competed alongside Sylvia over the years.
This includes Amersall school - which was Sylvia’s old school, Ibberson, Storm, KC Academy and SRZ.
Such has been the response that organisers have had to add both a matinee and evening performance.
The fundraiser will take place on July 18 at The Ivanhoe Centre on Gardens Lane in Conisbrough - just one week after what would have been John and Sylvia’s 23rd wedding anniversary.
As dancers prepare to take to the stage in Sylvia’s memory, her husband hopes the fundraiser will not only support Weston Park, but also honour the woman whose life revolved around helping others shine.