Editing Arlene Phillips (section)

== Early life ==
Phillips was born on 22 May 1943 in [[Prestwich]], [[Lancashire]].<ref name="celeb">{{Cite news|url= https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2021-11-16/im-a-celebrity-dame-arlene-phillips-to-be-shows-oldest-contestant |title=I'm A Celebrity 2021: Prestwich's Dame Arlene Phillips to be show's oldest contestant at 78 |publisher=itv.com |date=November 16, 2021}}</ref> She has a brother, Ian and a sister, Karen. She attended Broughton Preparatory School, [[Cheetham Hill]], Manchester;<ref name="pass"/> Beaver Road Primary School, [[Didsbury]];<ref name="pass"/> and [[Shena Simon Campus|Manchester Central High School for Girls]]<ref name="pass"/> after passing the [[eleven plus exam]].<ref name="pass">{{Cite news|url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/passed-failed-an-education-in-the-life-of-arlene-phillips-choreographer-and-creator-of-hot-gossip-2007713.html|title=Passed/Failed: An education in the life of Arlene Phillips, choreographer and creator of Hot Gossip |publisher=independent.co.uk |date=June 24, 2011}}</ref> When Phillips was 15, her mother, who had been suffering from [[leukaemia]], died aged 43 just before Phillips was due to take her exams.<ref name="pass"/>

Phillips originally wanted to be a ballet dancer and began dance classes at the age of three, receiving a grant from the local council to study ballet and [[tap dance]] at the Muriel Tweedy School in Manchester after leaving school at 16.<ref name="pass"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Weale |first1=Sally |title=‘Worse than the Tories’: cultural figures question Labour plans for arts in schools |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/mar/02/cultural-figures-question-labour-plans-for-arts-in-schools |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=9 March 2025 |date=2 March 2025}}</ref> Her mother had always expressed a desire to dance, which inspired Phillips into pursuing dance professionally.<ref name="pass"/>