We've received the official photograph of the lovely Amy and Sue receiving the finalist award certificate from Anne Walker MBE on behalf of Vanessa Gardner Academy of Dance at the recent ceremony. (Image copyright: Anne Walker MBE)

Three girls took part in the week-long Cecchetti Summer School held at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts. They all had a wonderful and exhausting time dancing for a whole week as well as coming up with their own group choreography for the finale competition in front of all the parents. 

Now in its 6th year, the Dance School of the Year Awards was founded by Anne Walker MBE to celebrate the achievements of theatre dance schools who so often do not receive the recognition they deserve. From the thousands of dance schools eligible to enter, entries were received from schools of all sizes across the UK and Europe. 32 schools were shortlisted across four categories which are:

• Up to 100 students
• 100-200 students
• Over 200 students
• Vocational Schools (Vocational is a full-time school whose primary purpose is to prepare students for a career in dance and the performing arts)

Judges Brenda Last OBE and Terry Etheridge as well as special guest Angela Rippon CBE joined over 140 dance teachers and their supporters at a glamorous black-tie event at Woodbury Park Hotel in the beautiful Devon countryside to present the Awards to the lucky schools.
Schools were judged on their professionalism and business acumen as well as the personal development of all the staff.

Very proud and excited to announce that we have been selected as a finalist in the Dance School of the Year Awards for schools with up to 100 students. 

From the Press Release...
Anne Walker MBE, a former dance teacher who has founded and run a number of businesses including International Dance Supplies, created these Awards to celebrate this incredible industry. She says: “Dance teachers should be applauded and celebrated. So much more than just a teacher – they are almost a substitute parent to many of their students as they are role models, mentors and social workers, offering support, stability and a disciplined approach to life. They instil a love of dance, music and theatre which will hopefully turn many students into tomorrow’s theatre-goers if not performers or teachers.
    Fellow dance teachers have supported me in my career over many years and now I hope, through these Awards, we can all celebrate the life-long passion for dance and the achievements of theatre dance teachers everywhere.”