
NINE talented dancers at Dyke House Academy have made the right moves to secure places on its scholarship programme.
The successful applicants are now enrolled on the Hartlepool secondary school’s Elite Dance scheme after being selected following assessment.
Five of them have earned places on the top tier of the scheme, including Lola Pounder having become a European champion in cheerleading.
The Year 7 student, a former pupil at Golden Flatts Primary, has travelled to Croatia, Netherlands and Germany, and is now set to compete in the USA at the World Championships.
The 12-year-old, who represents Hartlepool Hawks, said: “This year I am going to Italy, Barcelona and Florida, I go there in April and I can’t wait.
“It’s so nice to have been named on the Elite Dance at Dyke House. It makes me feel I am succeeding in what I have done.
“I have been going nearly six years to Hartlepool Hawks, having started at Mill House Gymnastics Club and really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to getting involved and wearing my new tie around school.”
All members of the Dyke House Elite squad are handed ties to wear and will be given strength and conditioning sessions to assist their development.
Dancers will get to represent Dyke House in championships and will perform at an awards ceremony, which they will train for at regular after-school sessions.
Year 7 students Lexie Allen and Olivia Todd join Lola on the top tier.
Lexie has performed to a high level and reached the finals in championships for Val Armstrong, like Olivia who has won solos at Nationals for Maloney’s Stage School, Billingham, too.
Sienna Williams, of Year 9, and Jessica Dodd, Year 10, have cheerdance places on the Elite having been team-mates with Lola in the successful national and European championship Hawks’ teams.
The Coordinator of Dyke House’s Elite Dance, Lisa Wilson, said: “I am looking forward to introducing cheerleading into the dance programme this year and working with them.
“They are incredibly talented in a variety of disciplines, including acro, and I would like this to encourage more cheerleaders to apply for the Elite too.
“It is about our dancers achieving consistency, and attending regular strength and conditioning sessions, in the classroom, in the dance studio and on stage.
“I would love for other students to aspire to be on the scheme and prove over the next nine months that they deserve to join this latest batch of dancers.”
There are five students who have been named on the second tier of the Elite Dance.
Year 7’s Millie Rowbotham (Watson’s Academy of Dance), Alicia Ashby (Val Armstrong) and Emilie Noble (Val Armstrong) are on the Elite along with Year 8 dancer Poppy Watson-Hamilton (Seaton Academy of Dance).
* To apply to be on Dyke House’s Elite Dance email [email protected] or pick up a form from the Academy’s front desk