Dance students go through
their moves at the Cascade Dance Academy at the Canterbury High
School. Picture: Chris Davey

by Adam Williams

The next generation of dancing
talent is being moulded at Canterbury High School, the home of the
country’s first full-time state school dance academy.

Already one term into its
foundation year, attention is turning to finding next year’s
intake.

Ten students are being put through
their paces three days a week, by tutors Ricia Coleman and Sam
Stringell from Tunbridge Wells-based company Cascade Dance, and the
school’s dance teacher Laura-Dee Jefferson.

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Video: Behind the scenes
at Cascade Dance Academy at Canterbury High School.

The elite dance academy’s two-year
course offers students the chance to train in a professional
environment, through an intensive development programme, while also
completing qualifications in either A-level dance or BTEC
performing arts. Students also sit exams for other subjects at
either GCSE, BTEC or A-level.

The programme focuses on technique,
performance and choreography in a variety of genres from ballet to
contemporary. Three hours a week are also devoted to an integrated
fitness training programme.

Laura-Dee Jefferson says the
commitment shown by students has been outstanding.

She said: “I’m really proud of all
the girls in how mature their approach has been. The intense
training from the professionals has really brought them on, giving
them a knowledge and understanding on what they need to do, in
order to work consistently to a high level.

“Usually, the kind of techniques
and skills they’re picking up aren’t taught until students reach
university, so it’s a huge bonus for them all.”

At the end of the two-year course,
students are given written references from the school and the
tutors from Cascade. They then have the opportunity to study a
dance degree at university at either Kent or Trinity Laban in
London.

For more information on auditions for next academic year and a chance to see the academy's students on stage at an open evening, visit the Cascade Dance website.