World is at Hannah’s feet
Hamilton dancer is set to work with top choreographers
A young Hamilton dancer is now being mentored by X Factor choreographer Brian Friedman after impressing him with her skills.
Calderside Academy pupil Hannah Sandilands will dance in a production of Fame in Edinburgh this summer as part of his programme for up-andcoming talent.
The 15-year-old, of Scholars Wynd, has also been offered a scholarship with The Hollywood Summer Tours in Los Angeles after receiving huge online praise for a dance video.
Hannah, who is currently a member of dance troupes Morse Code, Pink Acid and Goblynz as well as being a teaching assistant at CMDA dance school in Hamilton, said: “I appreciate everyone who supported my video and can’t believe the response it got.
“I thank my parents for everything they have done and my previous teachers from Nadia Brown Dance Academy and Happenin’ Dance, and my current teachers and team from Morse Code.
“I’m looking forward to my future in the dance industry.”
The youngster posted a video of her dancing to Anna Clendening’s song To My Parents and it attracted huge attention online.
Another video, which showed her dancing at the Move It competition in London last weekend has had over 45,000 views on social media. That latest video also got the attention of Sky1’s Got To Dance winner Lukas Mcfarlane, who offered her a place on his training programme.
Her proud sister Erin, also a dancer, said this week: “We are so proud of Hannah. She only started competing in dance two years ago and has had ongoing great success within the dance industry.
“Last weekend she competed down in London at the UK’S biggest dance competition, Move It, and found she had been accepted to take part in Lukas Mcfarlane’s training programme.
“This is due to start the first weekend in April and continue every Sunday down in London and will involve intense training with Lukas Mcfarlane himself.”
Canadian dancer Mcfarlane was crowned Got to Dance winner in 2013 and has worked alongside Friedman on the X Factor. Meanwhile, Friedman has choreographed routines for artists like Britney Spears, Cher, Beyonce Knowles and Mariah Carey.