Poet Simon in project with Bronte Parsonage

A MILNSBRIDGE dance school has been successful at a national dance competition.

Pupils at the Bodyrockerz Studios in Milnsbridge competed for national titles at the IDTA Nationwide Freestyle and Rock n Roll Finals at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool.

Each section of the nationwide finals had more than 100 competitors from across the UK.

The following pupils/teams from Bodyrockerz became national champions.

They were 3-5 years freestyle solo, Jessica Knopwood; star dance 6-10 years freestyle solo, Courtney Spencer; 14-17 years mark 200 years since the birth of Branwell Bronte.

Simon will be curating a whole programme of exhibitions and events celebrating Yorkshire’s most famous literary family. The Parsonage is moving into the new year with a £97,000 grant from Arts Council England, which will help fund a range of activities to celebrate the Bronte200 bicentenary celebrations.

Simon said: “Most people know Branwell either as the ne’er-do-well brother of the Bronte family or as the shadowy absence in his famous portrait of his three sisters.

“We’ll never really know Branwell properly, but in putting together events for his bicentenary I feel as if I’ve been privy to some of his hopes and dreams.”

The Brontes are hitting TV screens this week. Sally Wainwright, creator of the Yorkshire-based drama Happy Valley, has written To Walk Invisible, based on the three Bronte sisters. It will be shown on BBC1 tomorrow (Thursday, December 29) at 9pm.

To see the full programme of events Simon will be hosting at the parsonage visit www.bronte.org.uk