Review: The Welland School of Dancing show at Stamford Corn Exchange
Dance school pupils put on a sensational show at the weekend, combining ballet, tap and modern styles into a two-act drama.
Called ‘Elements’, The Welland School of Dancing’s show at Stamford Corn Exchange told the story of Earth’s battle against pollution - particularly plastic pollution in the oceans.
And yet, despite this quite weighty message, there were plenty of lighter acts, including a delightful tap routine from some of the younger dancers, set to Sinatra's Come Fly With Me, that practically drew cheers from the audience.
Each of the 30 short scenes saw a different group take to the stage, from Grade 1 ballet and tap, through to the undoubtedly dazzling Grade 6 dancers.
The progression that pupils make during their time at the dance school was evident, and the effect was a persuasive message for any parent: get youngsters involved in dance early and the moves will become second nature. On top of this, all of the children and adult dancers involved must benefit hugely from the level of fitness and confidence that being able to dance brings.
Written and directed by Maggie Purr, Elements certainly showcased her school's dance work in an impressive way, and the outfits were an important finishing touch.
Not only were there costume changes for individual dancers during the show, but the bursts of colour and sparkle meant the minimalist set worked very well as a backdrop.
The only disappointing observation was so few boys seem to be learning to dance.
