13 September 2023 , 08:26
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Legendary 90s pop singer Lisa Scott-Lee has swapped the glitz and glamour of the stage for the chalk and talk of a classroom in Dubai. The former Steps star is now making headlines as a headteacher.
Scott-Lee, who was a key member of the iconic 90s pop group Steps alongside Ian "H" Watkins, Claire Richards, Lee Latchford-Evans, and Faye Tozer, is no stranger to the spotlight. The five-piece band ruled the charts after their formation in 1997, with mega-hits such as Tragedy, 5678, and Deeper Shade of Blue.
However, following years of chart-topping success, Steps disbanded in 2001. Now aged 47, Lisa has chosen to channel her talents into education, taking on the role of a headteacher in Dubai. After a brief solo career post-Steps, Scott-Lee decided to relocate her family to the Middle Eastern metropolis in 2011. After three years of living in Dubai, Lisa and her husband, former Hear'Say singer Johnny Shentall, officially opened the Dubai Academy of Performing Arts in 2014.
The academy nurtures young talent, training children and teenagers to become passionate performers with dreams of making it big in the acting and music industries. According to recent figures, Lisa's school currently educates around 600 students aged between three and 18. The school itself boasts a 500-seat theatre, providing ample opportunity for pupils to showcase their talents.
Lisa is now a headteacher in Dubai (lisascottlee1/Instagram)
Lisa and her husband now live in Dubai (lisascottlee1/Instagram)In a surprising revelation, Lisa confessed that, despite her illustrious music career, she and her partner have always aspired to head a school. On the school's website, Lisa penned: "Since meeting back in 1999 when working together on the very first Steps tour, and with us both being professional singers and dancers, Johnny and I have always dreamed of owning our very own Performing Arts school, providing a professional standard of technical classes, combined with regular opportunities to perform in Theatre and professional events and shows."
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While she has chosen the path of education, Lisa confessed that she still enjoys performing, especially as she reignites her career with her former band. Steps made a triumphant return to the music scene in 2017 and again in 2022, releasing the Platinum Collection – which later clinched their fourth No. 1 album. However, Lisa's focus is now firmly set on her new venture in Dubai.
She believes her and Johnny's training as singers and dancers equips them to be better teachers for their students. In a light-hearted moment, Lisa shared how she and Johnny often debate over whether they should teach Steps songs to their students. "I was hoping they would all want to learn Tragedy, and he was like, 'no!' The students often come to me after a weekend and say, 'we were watching Steps at the weekend, we watched you in concert'," she said.
She added, "It is flattering, and if I can help children become interested in the performing arts, then I'm doing my job right".
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]