16/03/2026
We are so very sad to share news that our beloved Jackie Jazz has passed away. An absolute force of nature (with a foul mouth đ¤Ł) - we all adored her even when we were at the receiving end of the harshest feedback known to man!
Jackie was a Friday night staple for a good 20 years at Joanâs and weâre sure can all vividly remember the Saturday morning aches that followed. The outpouring of love and respect for her over the weekend has been heartfelt, and has brought back memories that have made us laugh and cry in equal measure.
Sleep easy Jackie - you were one in a million!
It is with deep sadness that we join the worldwide Performing Arts community in reflecting upon the loss of the remarkable Jackie Bristow.
A former member of Gowercollegeswansea Performing Arts staff, Jackie's contribution to the teaching of Dance was inestimable. Following a very successful performance career, and a long serving and greatly loved member of the Musical Theatre Faculty ArtsEd she spent the latter part of her highly regarded teaching career at Gorseinon.
Jackie knew what Excellence looked like. To her, there was no other standard to aim for. It was her starting point - when you set a bar high enough, everyone will improve. From starting lessons with her customary âRUN,â no second of a lesson was wasted. Every learner, though she may not remember their name, was there to be stretched to the very best of their potential. Lessons would end with students exhausted, yet many would ask to stay on for the next class. They knew Jackie was formidable but they recognised that, in her sessions, they were being taught by someone special who the Theatre Industry knew as a world class jazz dance technician.
A particular âJackie Jazzâ strength was her ability to recreate Dance Repertoire. Our students were fortunate to experience skill when preparing public performance work. Particularly memorable work includes Fosseâs âBye, Bye, Blackbird,â âSing, Sing, Sing,â and 2018âs production of âWest Side Storyâ when she recreated the original Jerome Robins choreography, drawing from her experience as Dance Captain for a UK tour of the production early in her career. Here we witnessed teaching of the highest standard.
Since Jackieâs passing, social media has become a forum for hundreds of tributes from former students and colleagues as they remember her: âlegend,â âa force,â âone of a kind,â âwonderful.â To those of us at Gorseinon, she was all of these things and more, and we loved her. A particular tribute that will resonate with most of her students over her very long career: âShe scared, inspired, and looked after me, all in equal measureâ.
Staff and students, past and present will miss her greatly.
Jackie, because we knew you, We have been changed for good. DLJ.
