The Times finds out more about their impressive achievements…
An independent dance school in Tunbridge Wells has seen record numbers of its pupils qualify for the prestigious All England Dance National Finals which will be held next month.
Over the recent May half term, young students from The Dance Consortium competed against the rest of the South East at The All England Dance Regional Finals held at The Hawth theatre in Crawley.
Dance Consortium pupils did so as both soloists and as a group, and did so well they managed to gain a top three placing – along with a prestigious honours mark – which has resulted in over 30 of them now gaining a place in the All England Dance national finals in July.
A spokesperson commented that the last time Dance Consortium students were in the finals was in 2019, when 18 young dancers made it through to the event.
“This year there are 34 competing against the rest of the country’s best dancers,” they continued.
The Dance Consortium was established 35 years ago and is based at Temple Grove Academy on Friars Way in Tunbridge Wells.
‘This year there are 34 local dancers competing against the best of the rest of the country’
The spokesperson added that the All England Dance National finals will be at the organisation’s HQ in High Wycombe and two of the qualified entries are Ukrainian dances that were performed at the Ukraine Relief Group Fundraiser last month in Tunbridge Wells.
The school teaches children a number of international dances including Czech, Mexican, Polish and Portuguese in addition to traditional ballet, tap and musical theatre.
The school’s co-principals Elizabeth Witt and Jessica Punch told the Times:
“We’re both incredibly proud of the dancers and are very excited to have so many dancers going to the national finals!”
Tickets will soon be on sale for The Dance Consortium’s summer show at EM Forster Theatre this July.
More info at thedanceconsortium.co.uk
