Ivybridge students ‘dancing on air’ after being selected for Youth Dance Academy
HIGH-FLYING STUDENTS SELECTED FOR SOUTH WEST’S TOP DANCE SCHOOL
Two Ivybridge students have been offered the opportunity of a lifetime after being selected for the Youth Dance Academy (YDA) – one of just nine UK ‘Centres for Advanced Training’ in dance.
Laura Martin (year 9) and John Speed (year 10), both students at Ivybridge Community College, were selected after undergoing an intensive two-stage audition, where they were assessed by a panel that included national dance artistes and YDA staff.
“I’m so excited,” said Laura. “Dance has always been my life and I want it to be my career. My favourite style is street dance and my ambition is to work as a choreographer for films, so this is a fantastic opening for me.”
Laura, who lives in Ivybridge, took up gymnastics when she was just three years old and then began dance lessons at the Deborah Bond Dance Academy aged six. Now, in addition to being a member of Ivybridge Community College’s Dance Academy, she practices twice a week at the Lucy Abbot Dance Academy, focussing on modern and tap.
John started dancing at the age of seven after ‘tagging along’ to one of his sister’s dance classes, which was run by Pippa Reece at Holbeton Primary School. He said: “This is an unbelievable opportunity, and I can’t wait to get started. Ballet has always been my favourite style, but at the YDA I can’t wait to start learning more about how to choreograph, as this will help me tremendously with both GCSE Dance and my future career. When I leave school I would love to perform with the Rambert Dance Company before pursuing a career as a choreographer.”
John currently attends Deborah Bond Dance Academy (where he learns tap modern and jazz) and the Totnes School of Dance (where he studies ballet). For his YDA audition piece he performed a fusion of ballet and contemporary dance, which he put together with the help of Bryony Lynch, dance teacher at Ivybridge Community College.
Laura and John are the among a select few Ivybridge Community College students that have been selected for the YDA since its inception. The selection process involved an initial two-hour try-out – after which Laura and John were shortlisted for final auditions. They were then invited to a full-day practical audition, which included the performance of a solo piece and an interview with the selection panel.
The Youth Dance Academy is a huge commitment both students, as it involves all-day sessions at Exeter University every other Sunday and additional intensive training that runs throughout the school holidays. They will also get the chance to work with top national choreographers from London and be given mentoring to help plan their career paths.
Bryony Lynch, dance teacher at Ivybridge Community College, said: “This is an exceptional achievement for Laura and John and we are extremely proud of them both – they are two of the most promising dancers that we have ever had at the college. The Youth Dance Academy programme is intense, with a focus on developing outstanding professional dancers, and I’m confident that they will both go on to pursue their dreams.”
Both Laura and John are studying GCSE Dance at Ivybridge Community College.
