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John Tiller
John Thomas Ibbotson Tiller (13 June 1854 – 22 October 1925) was a musical theatre director who was credited with inventing precision dance and was the originator of the 'Tiller Girls'.
John Tiller always had a keen interest in music. At ten years old he became a choirboy, and a choirmaster at fourteen. He took music lessons with a tutor named Dr Hiles, who later became Professor of Harmony and composition at the Royal Northern College of Music.
One of John's uncles, John George Tiller, was the wealthy owner of a successful cotton agency (one of the largest in Manchester). John wanted the same lifestyle. John's uncle took him into the family business and treated him like a son. During the day John worked in the cotton trade and after work he devoted himself to music and acting. He soon progressed to management in the cotton industry.
At 19 one of his girlfriends, Mary Elizabeth Carr, told him she was pregnant. On Christmas Eve 1873, they married at St John's Parish Church in Manchester. They had 10 children in 11 years. By this time John was a full partner in the cotton business and was living in a large house like his uncle.
He pursued his theatrical ambitions and became stage manager of an amateur theatrical group made up of local business people who would perform a Minstrels act in Manchester theatres. In 1885 John became director of the Comedy Theatre Manchester. During the same year, he began teaching children to dance. His early pupils practised for hours every Saturday afternoon amongst the bales of cotton in one of the firm's warehouses. He also taught at his home, to the disapproval of his wife.
His first dance performances were at small local church dances, and due to his position as director of the Comedy Theatre Manchester, he was able to arrange for his small dancers a place in the theatre's Christmas pantomime (his first real performance although not credited at the time).
At this time everything went wrong for him in his uncle's business. His uncle's son who was now old enough to work was brought into the family business. His uncle became an alcoholic. John had a violent quarrel with his uncle; John stormed out and set up his own business, never speaking with his uncle again.
John Tiller carried on presenting dancers in an amateur capacity. By this time, his real interest was with the theatre and dance, and he was getting bored with the cotton industry.
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John Tiller
John Thomas Ibbotson Tiller (13 June 1854 – 22 October 1925) was a musical theatre director who was credited with inventing precision dance and was the originator of the 'Tiller Girls'.
John Tiller always had a keen interest in music. At ten years old he became a choirboy, and a choirmaster at fourteen. He took music lessons with a tutor named Dr Hiles, who later became Professor of Harmony and composition at the Royal Northern College of Music.
One of John's uncles, John George Tiller, was the wealthy owner of a successful cotton agency (one of the largest in Manchester). John wanted the same lifestyle. John's uncle took him into the family business and treated him like a son. During the day John worked in the cotton trade and after work he devoted himself to music and acting. He soon progressed to management in the cotton industry.
At 19 one of his girlfriends, Mary Elizabeth Carr, told him she was pregnant. On Christmas Eve 1873, they married at St John's Parish Church in Manchester. They had 10 children in 11 years. By this time John was a full partner in the cotton business and was living in a large house like his uncle.
He pursued his theatrical ambitions and became stage manager of an amateur theatrical group made up of local business people who would perform a Minstrels act in Manchester theatres. In 1885 John became director of the Comedy Theatre Manchester. During the same year, he began teaching children to dance. His early pupils practised for hours every Saturday afternoon amongst the bales of cotton in one of the firm's warehouses. He also taught at his home, to the disapproval of his wife.
His first dance performances were at small local church dances, and due to his position as director of the Comedy Theatre Manchester, he was able to arrange for his small dancers a place in the theatre's Christmas pantomime (his first real performance although not credited at the time).
At this time everything went wrong for him in his uncle's business. His uncle's son who was now old enough to work was brought into the family business. His uncle became an alcoholic. John had a violent quarrel with his uncle; John stormed out and set up his own business, never speaking with his uncle again.
John Tiller carried on presenting dancers in an amateur capacity. By this time, his real interest was with the theatre and dance, and he was getting bored with the cotton industry.