After nearly five decades of shaping dancers in Johannesburg, Northcliff’s DanceXchange founder Margie Wells is stepping away from the studio she established almost 50 years ago, entrusting its future to two former learners she believes will carry its legacy forward.

Having enjoyed a successful professional dancing career before opening DanceXchange, Wells said her goal was always to help aspiring performers become the best dancers they could be while giving them the opportunity to pursue professional careers. “Teaching dance is such a rewarding job. When you love what you do, it never feels like work. Watching learners grow over the years and seeing the excitement dance brings them is enough to keep any teacher passionate,” she said.

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Throughout her career, Wells has taught three generations of families, instructing former learners, their children and even their grandchildren. She believes DanceXchange became far more than a dance studio. “I wanted to give young people confidence, self-esteem and social interaction skills. Sometimes I became a make-up artist, hair stylist, lighting technician or simply someone they could confide in,” she said.

Among her proudest moments was watching one of her hip-hop students perform as a backup dancer for international pop star Justin Bieber at FNB Stadium after being selected from hundreds of hopefuls across Gauteng. Like many arts institutions, DanceXchange faced significant challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic, with online lessons replacing face-to-face training.

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Although stepping away has been emotional, Wells said the transition has been made easier because the studio will now be led by Jacquie Graham and Bryanne Coxon, both former DanceXchange learners who trained under her from a young age. “I have full confidence they will carry on the DanceXchange legacy. I hope they continue creating a place that feels like family while building it from strength to strength,” she said.

While she will miss preparing dancers for stage productions and watching them flourish under the spotlight, Wells is not retiring completely. She plans to focus on her dancewear business in Weltevreden Road, continue making costumes and dance apparel, and remain involved in teacher training.

Looking back on almost half a century in the dance industry, Wells hopes the values that defined DanceXchange will continue long after she has stepped aside.

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