Charleston photograph

Asna Swerdlow was born in Liverpool on 20 May 1911. A childhood interest in dance led her to attend dance and ballet classes as a young girl. Aged about 9 or 10 she formed part of a dance group that gave shows for working men's clubs at church halls and the like.

When she was 14 years of age Asna won first place in the Charleston competition at the Assembly Rooms on Mount Pleasant, Liverpool. This led to an appearance at the national grand finals at the Albert Hall, London, where she won second place in her age group. This success gave her the opportunity to pursue a professional dancing career that was to span the next 25 years. Initially billed as Ms Centrix, she subsequently appeared on bills under either her real name or the stage names of Asne Mille, then Anita Lowe.

Asna met her husband to be in May 1936, and they were married in August of the same year. After her marriage she followed her husband's request that she give up the travelling life of a tour artiste and devote time to family. They went on to have three children, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Asna looked after her ill husband before he died in 1992, after 56 years of marriage.