Stunning dancers highly praised

The international dance competition for young people started more than 10 years ago in Australia, is now worldwide and Royal Manor has entered every year - with 2008 being their biggest and best entry to date.

A team of 90 students aged 12-16 supported by head of dance Ange Toms and dance teacher Fran Randell had to choreograph an eight-minute dance which portrayed an important moral message.

Royal Manor tackled the harrowing theme of young South American children caught up in the illegal drugs trade, their work also being built upon in dance, drama , music, history and religion lessons at school.

They travelled to the event in Bournemouth in a convoy of coaches, cars and removal trucks before toiling through a day of rehearsals, set construction and make-up in preparation for the evening performance against nine other south west schools in front of a packed audience of several thousand people and invited judges.

Royal Manor didn't win but its students were praised for the high standard of their performance, artistry and visual impact and for being the only school with an all-boy section.

As well as dancing, the students had to design and make costumes, sets and make-up, work which started back in September and which required a huge commitment from staff and students. Students also performed throughout the year in smaller dance shows raising £1,500 towards the cost of staging their big one-off performance.

Deputy headteacher Rob Russell said: "The quality of the performance given by these young people was outstanding. They should be immensely proud of their achievements.

"Not only have they performed in front of a live audience, they have worked effectively as a team, learning new skills that will benefit them in their future lives."

He went on to praise the hard working staff and helpers without whom the students would never have been able to perform and thanked sponsors - Dorset Vehicle Rentals, B&Q, and The Wool Shop.