A DANCE teacher has returned to Salisbury after a one year ban from the country.

Jacinta Landon was forced to leave her husband, friends, house and thriving dance school behind in August 2017, as she did not apply for a British visa before her ancestry visa expired.

After a year back in New Zealand working in a gym and volunteering in schools, Jacinta has finally returned to the city and to her students at Elevate Dance Studio.

Jacinta was not expecting to return to the UK until at least mid-December, but to her delight her visa was confirmed in September and a flight was booked for the following day.

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When asked how it felt to be sent back to her hometown, Jacinta described each day as "a struggle", and it was "hard work" looking after Elevate, organising performances and hiring teachers.

Additionally the dance lover would get up at around 3am most days to be available if anyone from Salisbury needed her during Elevate class times (from 4pm GMT).

She said: "I felt sick to the stomach, and it just felt like a rug was pulled from under my feet.

"You know when you've built a life you're happy with, I just couldn't think straight, like how am I going to be away for a year? How will the business survive? I felt I was going to lose everything.

"I missed the kids dreadfully, and I honestly wasn't sure if it [Elevate] was going to keep going, I really wanted it to, it was my number one thing to please just be there when I get back."

In the teacher's absence, pupils' parents, hired teachers and senior dancers helped to keep the company afloat, but as the number of students steadily declined Jacinta knew on her return she would need to bring more hip-hop and dance opportunities back to the city.

The company, specialising in street dance and perfecting dance technique, held an open day on November 24, to publicise the school, win back some members and celebrate Jacinta's return.

She added: "We just wanted to advertise that we're here and we're back, we haven't had too much of a presence in Salisbury for a while.

"My time away has just made me even more grateful for the fact I can now do what I love and inspire kids.

"I love my job, but it's not a job it's a hobby, it's such a part of me."

On Sunday, December 16, members of the Elevate tribe will be at the Christmas market from 2pm, to perform a flashmob-style routine for shoppers.