DANCING couple Marjorie and Fred Anderson are beginning to take life easy - after more than 50 years.

Professional dancers Marjorie, 77, and Fred, 78, from Guiseley started sequence dancing classes in Yeadon in 1950 before moving onto Pool-in-Wharfedale and Rawdon.

But now, after teaching thousands of people the intricacies of sequence dance, dwindling numbers have forced the couple to call time on their weekly Pool classes.

And although they will continue to lead weekly evening classes at Greenacre Hall, Rawdon, the couple are starting to wind down.

Marjorie and Fred, who live in Shaw Lane Gardens, have together notched up more than 111 years teaching and seen many groups spring up from their original classes.

Marjorie said: "We must have taught hundreds of people to dance and will have danced the equivalent of all round the country. Its been our life and we've hardly missed a week."

The couple, who as MCs call out and lead all the dances, started out at Park View Chapel, New Scarbor-ough, Yeadon in 1950 where they stayed for 22 years. In 1966, they moved to Pool Village Hall, Arthington Lane and in 1969 they took a class at Benton Park School, Rawdon, run by Leeds City Council.

In 1981, annoyed by the council's charges to the over 60s, they moved to Greenacre Hall, Rawdon.

Marjorie said: "We've been at Pool Village Hall for 36 years, every Thursday night and two Saturdays in the month. In that time we've taught modern sequence and a mixture of modern ballroom and old time dance.

"We were about 24-years-old when we first started, the classes were absolutely packed out and we had a waiting list of people wanting to join."

At the height of the classes popularity, they would regularly attract up to 80 people of both men and women and also young children.

Some of the children went on to start their own classes and others went off, had families of their own and returned years later to take up dancing again.

"When we were at Park View Chapel in Yeadon there was this knotty floor, we raised enough money and put a new maple floor down," said Marjorie.

Over the years, the couple have raised money for charity and also gone on day trips to places like Scarborough and Bridlington.

Marjorie, a member of the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA) and the International Sequence Dance Circle (ISDC), added: "At one time we did an all day and all night dance marathon at Park View Chapel, I can remember us dancing past the kitchen and being handed a sandwich to keep going."

They have always attracted both men and women, but in recent years the average age of those taking part has risen to more than 60 years old.

"I've always said if we stayed doing this long enough, everything would come a full circle and we'd end up at old time dancing again. Now, the people who are coming to us are 60 and 70 year olds," said Marjorie.

But as long as they can, Marjorie and Fred plan to carry on teaching dance at Greenacre Hall.

"We'll carry on as long as the rent doesn't go up anymore and as long as people still come to us," said Marjorie.

Renee Matthews, from Otley, and her husband, Bill, have been regulars at the Pool-in-Wharfedale club for 25 years.

The couple plan to carry on dancing at Greenacre Hall in Rawdon, but will miss the Pool dances.

"We've really enjoyed it. There's a great social atmosphere, like a big happy family."

Renee believes the growth of health clubs has lead to a drop in numbers wanting to dance.

"There used to be a waiting list at Pool and we actually felt honoured when we managed to get in. The trouble is the younger ones don't want to join - they go to the gym now - but there's not the same social atmosphere, we've had tremendous friendships over the years."