Ferndown dance troupe on their way to the Royal Albert Hall (From Bournemouth Echo)

Ferndown dance troupe on their way to the Royal Albert Hall

2:00pm Tuesday 25th September 2012 in News By Julie Magee

TALENTED dancers from Ferndown-based Studio One are celebrating after winning a public vote to perform at the Royal Albert Hall on November 4.

Fifty-two dancers will take part in the 2012 Dance Proms, along with a variety of acts from across the UK, performing Proud Mary which won them a standing ovation at Poole’s Lighthouse last year.

Principal Denise Booth, who runs Studio One with her daughter Katie Knight, said: “We are delighted; we received votes from all over the world.”

Dance Proms is a partnership project to celebrate dance between some of the UK’s biggest dance associations, including the Royal Academy of Dance, and the Royal Albert Hall.

Studio One dancers were shortlisted for a public vote from 50 schools by the Dance Proms panel. Katie, choreographer for the Proud Mary dance piece, said: “Our students are so excited and very much looking forward to performing at the Royal Albert Hall. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The gala performance will also include dances from the BRIT School, Croydon, Performers College, Essex and SLP College, Leeds.

Founded in 1981, Studio One, Dorset’s Centre for Performing Arts, is one of the largest and most successful performing arts schools in southern England.

Students aged between three and 19 are trained to a high standard in classic ballet, tap, modern/jazz, acrobatics, musical theatre and singing.

Dance and singing students are encouraged to progress either to teacher training courses, professional theatre schools or university courses. Many former students are now working in the performing arts or running their own dance schools.

Studio One’s 2013 production Strictly Musicals will be showcased at the new Pavilion Dance Centre in April.