Dance students excel to make school proud
FOUR students from Rochdale’s longest-running dance school performed in this year’s freestyle dance scholarship, which sees more than 5,000 dancers compete from around the country.
Girls from Turners Dance Studios competed as part of the National IDTA Scholarship after being nominated by their dance examiners.
After an exceptional performance, Carmela Coggin, 13, was announced as the winner of the 13 to 14-year-old category and was presented with a medal and a cheque of £150.
Paul-michael Jones, who trained at Laines Theatre Arts in London and teaches dance with his wife Lizzie at the studio, said: “Carmela is new to the competition scene and to win against other champion dancers who have been competing for years was amazing.
“We are super proud of all of the girls and they worked so hard.
“They have been so dedicated to their training and were down every night we were open.
“They had a brilliant day and although they were in different categories they all stayed all day supporting one another.
“It is lovely to be able to bring back the award to Rochdale and show the community that after more than 73 years our dancing studio is still going strong and is doing brilliantly.”
Also dancing in the same section as Carmela was Danelle Wilson, whose impressive performance got her through to the top 11 dancers.
Amelia Collier was awarded third place in the 18 and over category and Jaia Bagust came in fifth place in the 15-year-old section after showcasing their incredible talents.
Seven pupils from the school were selected but only four could attend the event in Birmingham.
The vibrant dance studio on George Street has been proudly running for three generations.
Chris and Joan Turner began the dancing school in 1949 which initially specialised in ballroom and Latin dancing.
Paul’s parents Stephen and Stephanie Jones then took over, and now Paul and his wife run the studio with the help of his parents who still teach ballroom and Latin.
The educational institution also offers lessons in disco, freestyle, contemporary, hiphop and street dance as well as runs ladies fitness classes and has a theatre school.
Adults, teenagers and little ones can all join in the fun along with the couple of hundred students at the school.
Ages one to three can enjoy baby classes and Mini Movers sessions are available for ages four to seven.