Sisters; Alicia Jackson (Year 11) and Layla Jackson (Year 7), have trained at DuPont dance stage school in Leicester for the past 3 years.  They study the ISTD syllabus for tap, modern, ballet, contemporary, acro, lyrical dance and musical theatre.  They train on average between 12-15 hours a week usually during the evenings, after school and on Saturdays.  The ‘All England Dance Finals’ is the accumulation of a 2 year cycle, during which dancers from all over the country compete in various qualifying festivals, with the aim of reaching the regional semi-finals, and then from there, hopefully getting through to the National finals in July/ August.

Reaching and qualifying for the regional semi-finals is a massive achievement in itself!  Both girls have just competed, which took place in Cheltenham during May half term.  Layla (Year 7) managed to qualify for 4 dances;  2 trios and 2 groups, whilst Alicia (Year 11) managed to qualify for 14 dances; 5 solos, 5 duets/trios and 4 groups to the ‘All England Dance Finals’ which will take place in High Wycombe from 26.7.19 to 3.8.19.

This is an outstanding achievement, especially given that Alicia was also revising and sitting her GCSEs!  They could not have done it without the superb training and dedication they receive from the teachers at the DuPont dance stage school, and also the support of BGLC, as many of the festivals take place during school term time and mean time off school.  It is a hard, demanding but extremely rewarding hobby, which they love to pursue.

WELL DONE Alicia & Layla!
Good luck in the ‘All England Dance Finals’
#BGLC_PA