Rainhill Launches Professional Dance Company

From stage, to screen, to celebrity reality television shows, it seems the British public can’t get enough of dance at the moment.

Now quick stepping students at a sixth-form are being given the platform to experience what it takes to become a top performer. Rainhill Media Arts College has launched a professional dance company, with the goal of nurturing talent in styles ranging from ballet and tap to hip hop and street dance.
Twenty youngsters taking the BTEC National Diploma Dance course will create contemporary dance performances and commercial theatre pieces. To secure a place in the company youngsters must audition in front of a panel of professional dance choreographers, performers and teachers.
They will be heading out to St Helens twin town Chalon Sur Saone in the spring to grace a French dance festival. Coaching tips have come from the school’s artist in residence, Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts graduate, Josie Cork.

Lou Aylward, head of dance at the school and artistic director of the company, said: “The goal is to give sixth formers professional experience of the life of a company dancer.
“We’ll be producing high quality, entertaining and innovative performance pieces for private and public events.”