IT has been several decades since one of Bolton's most iconic dance halls last felt the tread of the quickstep and jive on its boards.

But for one night only the Palais de Danse was reopened in its former glory to welcome dancing couples one more time.

The revival is at the heart of new BBC Two series You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, which is hitting television screens tonight at 9pm, and again on Thursday.

It follows the journey of choreographer Jack Murphy as he re-opens the dance hall with the help of former patrons who last danced at the Palais in the late 1950s and new recruits from Bolton.

The town takes centre stage in the two hour-long episodes, with Jack's battle to try to restore the Palais back into a dance hall, as well as venues including the Macron Stadium acting as a performance space — with the dancers taking to the pitch at half time.

Among the former Palais regulars who stepped forward to don their dancing shoes again and train under Jack's guidance were Flossie Dawson, aged 77, from Halliwell, who had not been dancing for 61 years after quitting when her husband, then boyfriend, Derek confessed that the hall was not his scene.

She said: "I couldn't lose him. I gave up dancing because I loved him that much. I never danced again.

"Going back to the Palais, it was incredible to see it again. Something like this might not ever happen again.

"Dancing to a live band, I couldn't explain the feeling, it was beautiful, the atmosphere was fantastic."

Walter Dolphin, aged 80, from Breightmet took part with friend and dance partner Sheila Matkin, aged 75.

He was keen to get jiving again, but the first episode sees him face an unexpected obstacle when asked to dance in front of the match-day crowd at Bolton Wanderers.

"It was a bit embarrassing," he said.

"I go every week to watch the match and when Jack first took us I went ballistic. We were right in front where all my mates would be standing. I had to do it," he said.

"When we were at the Palais on the final night it was unbelievable how many people got up and danced. It was heaving on the dance floor. It was beautiful.

"I used to go there every Friday night. You would get dressed up in your collar and tie. I think half of Bolton met there.

"I was a jiver, I got pulled up one time doing a jive because you weren't allowed to do it. The bouncer said no jiving here. When the Americans came over that all changed."

Sheila said: "I think I will be behind the settee for the show.

"I'm really looking forward to it but nervous, I've never been filmed as much in my life, but it was wonderful."

From the Palais de Danse to Ikon — history of Bolton's famous dance and club venue

Among the people taking part in the second episode, which focuses on the younger generation taking their first dancing steps are actor and volunteer worker Drew Swankie from Tonge Fold, who had natural rhythm but struggled to find a dance partner, and husband and wife team Helen and Scott Berry from Fairfield in Bury.

The parents decided to take part after flunking their debut dance on their big day.

"We got married in March but when we did the wedding dance it was pretty poor," Helen said.

"We wanted to do it properly, help relive it, but we didn't imagine it would go where it did.

"It was a fabulous experience and when we got to dance together it was something money couldn't buy."

Despite their different ages and backgrounds, the team of dancers became strong friends under the guidance of their choreographer.

Jack's star-studded career has seen him teach Daniel Craig to jive, Daniel Radcliffe to polka and Emily Blunt to waltz, but in his journey to revive social ‘partner’ dancing he quickly fell in love with the Palais and his determined pupils.

He said: "They were amazing, I didn't expect the connection we made. There is a similarity between the people who took part in the show and me, and that showed from the start. We both wear our hearts on our sleeves.

"We all love to dance and they shared their experience with me. It really was the working experience of my life.

"I've got to make sure Bolton is pleased, there's a great responsibility here because I love Bolton.

"The biggest personality of the episodes is the Palais de Danse.

"It is one of the few remaining buildings of its kind in Bolton, it's beautiful. It is still a beautiful place, it isn't broken, you have to believe in her, she can come back again. If you go to Blackpool there is a strong social history and people go there for its famous ballroom, it can be done, come on Bolton."

Jack also paid tribute to Edna Heywood, from Heaton, who took part in the show as a former patron of the Palais but died last month aged 79.

He said: "The family have been incredibly supportive of You Make Me Feel Like Dancing. They are pleased she got a chance to take part, it was a return back to dance for her.

"We are all heart broken. We all became a close knit group of people.

"The show is a great legacy to her. The family are proud of her taking part in something she made a tremendous commitment too and doing something which meant so much to her and she loved."

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