A reflection on 2017...

We hope all our pupils and their families had a very Merry Christmas, and we send everyone our very best wishes for the New Year. We look back on 2017 and the achievements throughout the year:

• Earlier this year, a student (whom we had trained from a beginner) was successfully offered a place and began full-time training at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, Hertfordshire. In her first term there, she has already been cast in English National Ballet’s Nutcracker at the London Coliseum.
• Two students were offered places as Elmhurst School for Ballet (in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet) Junior Associates, alongside another student who was offered a place to continue for another year.  This brings it to a total of five students offered places on this scheme in the last three years.
• A student was accepted and began studying on the Moorland International Ballet Academy's Intermediate Enhancement Programme.
• A student successfully auditioned for Birmingham Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Out of hundreds from across the UK who auditioned, there were only sixteen roles available (8 boys, 8 girls).
• We moved into our beautiful new premises in February and now have a light, spacious and beautiful large room.
• Finalists at the annual ISTD Imperial Classical Ballet Junior Awards, held in Milton Keynes, with students achieving 3rd place, and the Musicality Cup, out of 51 entrants from the UK and abroad.
• Success at the UK Dance Class Championships in both Liverpool and Sheffield, including 1st places.
• 100% Distinctions for all NATD Tap and Theatrical examinations. The highest mark was 92/100, achieved by five students.
• 100% Distinctions for all ISTD Ballet, Tap and Modern examinations. The highest mark was 98/100 achieved by five students.
• Miss Johanna gained her Licentiate status with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD).
• Multiple professional photo shoots for dancewear companies, including a photo shoot alongside two professional ballet dancers from English National Ballet. 
• Attended workshops by Birmingham Royal Ballet and Preston Dance College. We also hosted in-house workshops with Darren Pritchard (Contemporary) and Martin Dutton (Ballet).
• Began our new Silver Swans® ballet classes for the over 55s. We are privileged to be one of only 120 licensed teachers worldwide, and the only school in Lancashire licensed to teach these classes. The Silver Swans® have enjoyed a trip to watch The Nutcracker and a wonderful Christmas party too.​

And we look forward to next year, our 40th anniversary year.