Dancing for Joy

This year the young dancers of the Western Association of Ballet Schools are truly “Dancing for Joy!” as 2005 sees the company’s 30th Anniversary. Over the years, nearly 7,000 talented young performers have brought first-class entertainment and great enjoyment to Pavilion audiences.

So in this special year, we celebrate the joy of childhood, with scenes from Pantomime to Peter Pan, Sport to “Harry Potter”, the Seaside to Picnics, and Christmas to “Cats”.

​

Musical Box of Delights

Dancing with birthday wings on their feet, the region's top ballet schools celebrated 30 successful years on Sunday with this uplifting and right up-to-date music box delight.

Recalling memories of summer, the Jan Mizen dancers made a splashing start Down On The Beach to Heat Is On and a disco-style version of I Do Like To be Beside the Seaside. The Spotlight School showed their flair with Bye Bye Blackbird and that swing classic Sing Sing Sing, while the spirit of sport was captured by the Wessex School's display with whirling Olympic hoops and banners.

Christmas came early with Rita Jenvey's dancers, helped by Shakin' Stevens and co. The pantomime season was represented by the Talbot Academy's Cinderella, along with the Jane Farrell team's Peter Pan complete with clockticking crocodile. And that all-year round favourite Harry Potter was magically conjured up by our own local Hogwarts - the Academy of Dance.

And finally, Carrington Hollywood Academy with Lloyd Webber's tail swinging Cats - a purr-fect finale!

Ray O'Luby

Daily Echo - Tuesday 22nd November 2005

​

​