AN OXFORD dance academy fears it could be left without a venue after the future of a Royal British Legion Club was put in doubt.

The Isis Dance Academy was due to use the Headington Royal British Legion Club, in Edgecombe Road, Headington, from September after its current premises at St Mary’s Church Hall, in Bayswater Road, was put up for sale.

But the Oxford Mail understands the RBL Headington club held a meeting with members on Thursday, June 12, to discuss its financial state after falling on hard times. The Royal British Legion confirmed it was in negotiations with the club over its future.

The club will hold another meeting on Thursday, July 3, when a final decision will be made.

Margaret Sermanni, 54, who runs the Isis Dance Academy, said she was now struggling to find another venue for her dancers.

She said: “At the minute it leaves us up a creek without a paddle, because we have to start looking again to see where is available.

“There are not a lot of halls left and those that are good are already being used.

“At the time the Royal British Legion Club were answering our prayers, but now everything is up in the air.”

Up to 100 dancers attend three evening and one Saturday class in the church hall, which has been the academy’s home for 31 years.

But Miss Sermanni was told to find a new venue after church leaders decided to sell the dilapidated hall.

She said: “The worst case scenario would be having different classes in different halls at various times of the week, or I retire and call it quits.

“I have been teaching since I was aged 15 in Glasgow so I have been doing it for nearly 40 years. It’s all I know.”

Terry Cox, secretary of the Headington RBL branch, refused to comment, but confirmed another meeting will be held on July 3.

A spokesperson for The Royal British Legion said: “The Royal British Legion is currently in ongoing discussion with the Headington Royal British Legion Club Ltd over its future.”

The Headington club opened in 1965. The branch had previously met at the Six Bells pub, in Headington.

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