Youngsters have date with dance superstar
Louis Spence to put Paisley kids through their paces
04.11.2017 Talented Paisley movers are perfecting their pirouettes after being handpicked to perform on stage with dance superstar Louis Spence.
Youngsters at Vision Dance Academy are getting the once-ina-lifetime opportunity to tread the boards of the Clyde Auditiorium, sharing the stage with one of their idols.
They were selected to take part in the prestigious Dance Champs UK showcase after they caught the eye of industry professionals who run the event.
The Renfrewshire youths will be showing off their moves to an audience of thousands and will get to meet dancer and TV personality, Louis.
Two lucky dancers will even have the opportunity to take part in a masterclass session with the top choreographer, who will show them what it takes to be a star.
Vision Dance co-owners Kay Copland, 24 and Becky Hardie, 22, were delighted when their school, based in Foxbar, made the cut for Dance Champs UK 2017, beating more than 140 applicants from across the nation.
Kay said: “We’re over the moon to have been selected and all the girls are so excited.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for them and one which could hopefully open up a few doors.
“The girls still can’t believe they will be meeting and dancing with Louis Spence. It’s a very inspiring experience for them.
“Louis is great — we’ve all seen him on TV and showing his success to the kids will let them see where dance could take them.”
Vision Dance offers classes for two to 18-year-olds, as well as an Adult DanceFit class for older movers.
But the intermediate class — girls aged 10 to 14 years — will be the ones taking part in the Dance Champs show on February 24 next year.
The group — which came up trumps in recent street dance competitions — will be playing to their talents, performing a funky hip-hop number.
“The girls are used to performing in front of a lot of people and they know what’s expected of them,” Kay said.
“But Dance Champs is an audience of 3,000 people and usually sells out, so it’s their biggest performance yet — it’s a really big deal for them.”
Kay and Becky set up Vision Dance Academy in 2015 with just three pupils.
It has since gone from strength to strength and the school now offers classes in ballet, tap, contemporary, jazz , hip-hop and more to around 60 pupils.
Kay added: “We are constantly on the lookout for new opportunities, so to get into Dance Champs is great for the company.
“Foxbar is a small area, so it’s great for the kids to tell their friends, family and teachers they are dancing with Louis — it’s a brilliant achievement.
“They are all practising their high-kicks and splits already.”