South Yorkshire Times, May 2nd, 1970
Blonde Irene Will Join Minstrel Dancers
Being chosen one of 12 out of well over 100 girls throughout the country who attended for audition, Irene Ellis, 19-years-old elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Colin Ellis of 20 Bly Road, Darfield, has been selected to join the Black and White Minstrels. She is to join the company on June 1st for a tour which will include Paignton, Coventry and Manchester. In about 12 months’ time she hopes to be in the team which regularly appears on television.
Irene started dancing at the age of nine, being a pupil of her aunt, Miss Elizabeth Craven who runs a dancing school at Darfield. Dancing is “in her blood” as many of her relatives are also trained dancers. She has won trophies, medals and certificates at festivals, and has passed many examinations in tap, ballet and modern dancing.
From the BA-BA
Formerly a resident dancer at the Ba-Ba club at Barnsley, she has just finished a season at Bradford in the pantomime “Dick Whittington”, a Bernard Delfont production, starring singing star Vince Hill.
For the audition for the Black and White Minstrels, Irene attended Leeds Grand Theatre. From 30 girls at that audition, she was one of only two chosen. The team of 12 has been selected from auditions held through the country,
Says Irene, 5ft 6ins. tall, and an attractive blonde. “I am very much looking forward to this new assignment. Dancing is a very glamorous life and I never feel that I am working although rehearsals can be very strenuous and tiring.”