Beth Lambert
YOUNG dancers from Warrington are heading to the UK’s top dance and theatre schools after dazzling tutors and examiners with their skills.
Priestley College’s dance cohort have secured places at London Studio Centre, LIPA, De Montfort and Edge Hill among others following a remarkable set of A-Level results, which saw 80 per cent secure A* to A with every student achieving at least a B.
There was similar success for the BTEC Dance students with a 100 per cent pass rate and 50 per cent of grades at Distinction*.
Tutor Rachel Leyland said: “It was an outstanding year. The students worked so hard and responded brilliantly to everything we taught them.
“Our tutors have worked in theatre so we teach with industry standards and expectations in mind and the students responded to that.”
Among the successful performers was 18-year-old Holly-Ann Hodgkinson from Padgate.
The former Beamont Collegiate Academy pupil secured A* in her Dance A-Level, Distinction* in her Dance BTEC as well as a B in Drama.
One of the highlights of studying at Priestley for Holly-Ann was performing at the Victoria Baths in Manchester, which the college hired as an alternative venue.
“It made me realise you don’t need to dance on a stage or in a studio, you can take dance anywhere and be inspired,” she said.
Over the year the dance students have benefitted from workshops in college run by people at the top of their profession including Britain’s national dance company Rambert, a dancer from Thriller Live and Phoenix Dance Theatre Company.
Priestley’s head of Performing Arts Sarah Graham said: “It really does raise the students’ aspirations by introducing them to professionals in their chosen disciplines. It’s the best way to introduce them to industry standards and our students always raise their level during these workshops.”
Among those who benefitted from the workshops was 18-year-old former Bridgewater High School pupil Beth Lambert.
She said: “You really are aiming for perfection when you study at Priestley. We all pushed each other on, watched one another perform and aimed for the same standards.”
She is now studying at the London Studio Centre after securing an A* in her Dance A-Level along with two Distinction*s and a further Distinction in her Performing Arts BTEC Extended Diploma.
