The Dance Section at this year’s Highbridge Festival of The Arts saw over two hundred dancers take to the stage to perform almost six hundred dances in the space of five days.
The 2025 festival runs from Monday 10th – Saturday March 22nd at Burnham’s Princess Theatre and St John’s Church in Highbridge.
From the youngest dancers, some aged less than six, to the oldest adult dancers they showcased dances in a wide variety of styles and delighted not only the enthusiastic and appreciative audiences but also the adjudicator, Maxine Percy.
As the week progressed the dancers’ experience became more evident with many of the older teenagers achieving high honours marks for their performances in solos, duets, trios and quartets.
One of the highlights of the week were two performances by Henry Fryer from Wells Ballet School, which were graded outstanding by the adjudicator, and for which he was widely praised by his fellow competitors and their families.
On Thursday, Saturday and Sunday evenings junior, intermediate, senior and adult groups from dance schools based in Bristol, Taunton, Wells, Bridgwater, Burnham, Highbridge and Chepstow competed in both classical and cabaret styles.
The adjudicator told the organisers that this was the first time that she had seen adult groups take part in a festival and that she was also pleased to see a non-competitive Performance Class in the programme.
Talking to the dancers she said: “I enjoy going around the country and seeing that non-competitive classes are appearing more and more. It’s lovely to see you all working together to give a performance. From this you will gain confidence and experience.”
Festival Secretary, Clare Catcheside, adds: “We have had a fantastic week at the Princess Theatre for our Speech and Drama and Dance Sections and would like to thank all the staff at the Theatre for the support they’ve given us during the week.”
“We would also like to thank all our entrants for making the festival such a wonderful showcase for the performing arts, our adjudicators, Janine Diamond and Maxine Percy, for their encouraging feedback and positive critiques to entrants, our sponsors and supporters, Burnham-On-Sea Rotary Club, The Arts Society Somerset, Westcotts and the Friends of Highbridge Festival.”
The Festival continues until Saturday 22nd March with the Music Section at St John’s Church, Highbridge. More details about what is happening each day can be found at www.highbridgefestival.org.uk
Dance results for Wednesday 12 March 2025
Class 88 Any Dance Primary Schools
1st Wicked – Worle Village Primary School
2nd= A Brand New Day – Berrow Primary School Academy
2nd= Hot Right Now – St Joseph’s & St Teresa’s School
3rd Can’t Stop The Feeling – St Joseph’s & St Teresa’s School, Wells
Class 48 Lyrical Modern Solo 7 – 8 years
1st Arwen-Elizabeth Morris
2nd= Paisley Gaines
2nd= Sofia Hall
3rd= Alaya Buck
3rd= Grace Gibbons
Class 56 Character Solo 6 years and under
1st Grace Young
2nd Isla Miller
3rd Esme Stirling
Class 51 Commercial/Street 7 – 8 years
1st Evalynne Dube
Class 47 Character Solo 7 – 8 years
1st Aleksandra Rogowska
2nd Elsie Blight
3rd Lorna Emery
Class 54 Modern Solo 6 years and under
1st Isla Miller
2nd Beatrix Smith
3rd= Holly Christiaans
3rd= Aliyah Hendry
Class 70 Cabaret Duets 8 years and under
1st Alaya Buck & Lorna Emery
Class 61 Any Dance Solo 4 years and under
1st= Willow Peasey
1st= Erin Williams
Class 44 Classical Ballet Solo 7 – 8 years
1st Lucy Poole
2nd Aleksandra Rogowska
3rd= Eliza Davies
3rd= Ralph Potter
Class 53 Classical Ballet Solo 6 years and under
1st Beatrix Smith
2nd Isla Miller
3rd Holly Christiaans
Class 49 Greek Solo 7 – 8 years
1st Matilda Bushell
Class 57 Greek Solo 6 years and under
1st Esme Stirling
Class 46 Tap Solo 7 – 8 years
1st Alaya Buck
2nd Grace Gibbons
3rd Lorna Emery
Class 45 Modern Solo 7 – 8 years
1st Aleksandra Rogowska
2nd Evelyn Pilgrim
3rd= Paisley Gaines
3rd= Alaya Buck
Class 55 Tap Solo 6 years and under
1st Isla Miller
2nd Grace Young
Class 50 National Solo 7 – 8 years
1st Suzie Mae Ashton
2nd Matilda Bushell
Class 52 Musical Theatre Solo 7 – 8 years
1st Alaya Buck (Honours)
2nd Rosie Chidgey
Class 60 Musical Theatre Solo 6 years and under
1st Grace Young
Class 71 Classical Duets 8 years and under
1st Rosie Chidgey & Alaya Buck
2nd Matilda Bushell & Esme Stirling
Dance results for Thursday 13 March 2025
Class 41 Own Choreographic Solo 9 – 10 years
1st= Grace Wood
1st= Freya Jeffries
Class 37 Character Solo 9 – 10 years
1st Sienna Miller
2nd= Freya Jeffries
2nd= Olive Gaskell
3rd= Rae Fry
3rd= Ruby Smith
Class 42 Commercial/Street Solo 9 – 10 years
1st Sophie Hoydan
2nd Delilah Gaines
Class 38 Lyrical Modern Solo 9 – 10 years
1st Freya Jeffries
2nd= Zephaniah Morgan
2nd= Ruby Smith
3rd Grace Wood
Class 34 Classical Ballet Solo 9 – 10 years
1st Olive Gaskell
2nd Rae Fry
3rd= Zephaniah Morgan
3rd= Ruby Smith
Class 80 Classical Trios/Quartets 10 years & under
1st Zaida Drew, Isabelle Taylor & Maisy Bateman
Class 39 Greek Solo 9 – 10 years
1st Rosanna Upton
2nd Bella Hurford
3rd= Eva Capel
3rd= Frankie Senior
Class 35 Modern Solo 9 – 10 years
1st Sienna Miller
2nd= Rae Fry
2nd= Freya Jeffries
2nd= Grace Wood
3rd= Olive Gaskell
3rd= Ruby Smith
Class 40 National Solo 9 – 10 years
1st Sophie Hoydan
2nd Rosanna Upton
Class 89 Classical Duets 10 years & under
1st Florence Cousins & Olive Gaskell
2nd Aurelia Mason & Millie Fella
3rd Zaniah Stewart & Azyrah Stewart
Class 68 Cabaret Duets 10 years & under
1st Zuzanna Zyla & Aleksandra Rogowska
2nd Elspeth Wrayford & Zephaniah Morgan
3rd Florence Cousins & Olive Gaskell
Class 36 Tap Solo 9 – 10 years
1st Grace Wood
2nd Ruby Smith
3rd= Luke Gordon
3rd= Freya Jeffries
Class 79 Cabaret Trios/Quartets 10 years & under
1st Pheobe Lovell, Lucy Poole & Isla Miller
2nd Mila McNeill, Grace Young & Farley Bridgeman
Class 43 Musical Theatre Solo 9 – 10 years
1st Rae Fry
2nd Willow Pritchard-Roberts
3rd Elizabeth Cowper
Class 87 Classical Junior Groups 10 years & under
1st Cinderelly Mice – Signature Dance Studios
2nd If I only had a brain – Stepping Stones School of Dance
3rd Celtic Charm – Signature Dance Studios
Class 90 Group Performance Class
Candy – Stepping Out Dance
Class 86 Cabaret Junior Groups 10 years & under
1st Good News – Signature Dance Studios
2nd Route 66 – First Steps & Carly Elizabeth School of Dance
3rd Ready for the Ride – Stepping Stones School of Dance
Dance results for Friday 14 March 2025
Class 28 Greek Solo 11 – 12 years
1st Saskia Gair
2nd Erin Slaney
3rd Phoebe Brown
Class 25 Tap Solo 11 – 12 years
1st Chloe Jenkins
2nd Lola John
3rd= Maja Rogowska
3rd= Mya Miller
Class 31 Own Choreographic Solo 11 – 12 years
1st Leah Gilbert
2nd Shelby Wickens
Class 30 National Solo 11 – 12 years
1st Saskia Gair
2nd Freya Pearl Wood
3rd Rimon Gold
Class 23 Classical Ballet Solo 11 – 12 years
1st Saskia Gair
2nd Amelie Thompson
3rd Erin Slaney
Class 32 Commercial/Street Solo 11 – 12 years
1st Layla Glover-Long
2nd Phoebe Brown
3rd= Amelie Payne
3rd= Harley Magnum
Class 67 Classical Duets 12 years & under
1st Marcy-May Murdoch & Chloe Jenkins
2nd Freya Pearl Wood & Frankie Senior
3rd Amelia Spendley & Amelie Thompson
Class 24 Modern Solo 11 – 12 years
1st Chloe Jenkins
2nd= Saskia Gair
2nd= Maja Rogowska
3rd= Mya Miller
3rd= Marcy-May Murdoch
Class 29 Contemporary Solo 11 – 12 years
1st Saskia Gair
Class 27 Lyrical Modern Solo 11 – 12 years
1st Erin Slaney
2nd= Saskia Gair
2nd= Chloe Jenkins
3rd= Freya Pearl Wood
3rd= Lily Magpantay
Class 26 Character Solo 11 – 12 years
1st Lily Magpantay
2nd= Saskia Gair
2nd= Freya Pearl Wood
3rd= Abi Latimer
3rd= Maisie Kinneir
Class 33 Musical Theatre Solo 11 – 12 years
1st Lola John
2nd Abi Latimer
3rd= Tallulah Lewis
3rd= Leyla Puddy
Class 66 Cabaret Duets 12 years & under
1st Marcy-May Murdoch & Chloe Jenkins
2nd Mya Miller & Sienna Miller
3rd Maisie Kinneir & Lily Magpantay
Dance results for Saturday 15 March 2025
Class 18 Contemporary Solo 13 – 14 years
1st Noah Morgan
2nd Lily Usher
3rd Layla Tovey
Class 15 Character Solo 13 – 14 years
1st Henry Fryer (Outstanding)
2nd= Molly Webster
2nd= Noah Morgan
3rd= Kiera Hallet
3rd= Lily Usher
Class 19 National Solo 13 – 14 years
1st Millie Smith
2nd Zara Campbell
Class 64 Cabaret Duets 14 years & under
1st Alice Friend & Daisy Sen-Sharma-West
2nd Rosie Eades & Lauren Dodden
3rd Hattie Kybert & Marianne Finch
Class 17 Greek Solo 13 – 14 years
1st Lucy Hasler
Class 12 Classical Ballet Solo 13 – 14 years
1st Noah Morgan
2nd Ruby Sproat
3rd= Evie MacDonald
3rd= Lula Quartermain
Class 76 Classical Trios/Quartets 14 years & under
1st Lily Usher, Kiera Hallet & Sienna Miller
2nd Lucy Hasler, Izzy Watters & Kaitlyn Smith
Class 14 Tap Solo 13 – 14 years
1st Layla Tovey
2nd Lauren Dodden
3rd Rosie Eades
Class 75 Cabaret Trios/Quartets 14 years & under
1st Lily Usher, Kiera Hallet, Mya Miller & Lola John
2nd Lily Usher, Kiera Hallet & Sienna Miller
3rd Lucy Hasler, Izzy Watters & Kaitlyn Smith
Class 16 Lyrical Modern Solo 13 – 14 years
1st Molly Webster
2nd= Henry Fryer
2nd= Hattie Kybert
3rd= Ruby Sproat
3rd= Layla Tovey
Class 22 Musical Theatre Solo 13 – 14 years
1st Daisy Sen-Sharma-West
2nd Mili Burton
3rd= Hattie Kybert
3rd= Grace Smith
Class 13 Modern Solo 13 – 14 years
1st Henry Fryer (Outstanding)
2nd= Lily Usher
3rd= Layla Tovey
3rd= Lauren Dodden
Class 65 Classical Duets 14 years & under
1st Evie MacDonald & Ruby Sproat
Class 20 Own Choreographic Solo 13 – 14 years
1st Henry Fryer
2nd Zara Campbell
Class 85 Classical Intermediate Groups 14 years & under
1st Dominos – Nicky Jenks School of Dance
2nd What I did for love – Stepping Stones School of Dance
Class 84 Cabaret Intermediate Groups 14 years & under
1st Snowflake – First Steps & Carly Elizabeth School of Dance
2nd Can’t Hold Us – Fox King Dance Academy
3rd= Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Lisa Jane School of Dance
3rd= Home – Fox King Dance Academy
Dance results for Sunday 16 March 2025
Class 8 National Solo 15 – 18 years
1st Ella Trott
2nd= Emily Vickers-Graham
2nd= Hollie Shere
Class 5 Lyrical Modern Solo 15 – 18 years
1st Bethany Hughes
2nd Jessica Hughes
3rd Rocha Teale
Class 62 Cabaret Duets 18 years & under
1st Jessica Hughes & Molly Webster
2nd Connie Perrett & Elodie Drew
3rd Emilia Cornes & Emily Vickers-Graham
Class 3 Tap Solo 15 – 18 years
1st Rocha Teale
2nd Connie Perrett
3rd Lorelei Murdoch
Class 2 Modern Solo 15 – 18 years
1st Leah Poole
2nd= Jessica Hughes
2nd= Rocha Teale
3rd Bethany Moss
Class 10 Commercial/Street Solo 15 – 18 years
1st Samira Lee
2nd= Sophia Winfield
2nd= Alisha Hutchison
Class 74 Classical Trios/Quartets 18 years & under
1st Jessica Hughes, Ruby Sproat & Molly Webster
2nd Hollie Shere, Hannah Gamlin & Ella Trott
Class 9 Own Choreographic Solo 15 – 18 years
1st Lorelei Murdoch
2nd Rocha Teale
Class 11 Musical Theatre 15 – 18 years
1st Rocha Teale
2nd= Emilia Cornes
2nd= Paige Marshall
Class 1 Classical Ballet 15 – 18 years
1st Jessia Hughes
2nd Evie Clarke
3rd Leah Poole
Class 73 Cabaret Trios/Quartets 18 years & under
1st Emilia Cornes, Emily Vickers- Graham & Lola Smith
Class 4 Character Solo 15 – 18 years
1st Rocha Teale
2nd Bethany Moss
3rd Lorelei Murdoch
Class 63 Classical Duets 18 years & under
1st= Hollie Shere & Hannah Gamlin
1st= Jessica Hughes & Molly Webster
Class 83 Classical Senior Groups 18 years & under
1st Motion – Annette Adams School of Dancing
2nd Golden Hour – Fox King Dance Academy
3rd Celtic Jig – Signature Dance Studios
Class 82 Cabaret Senior Groups 18 years & under
1st Too Darn Hot – Fox King Dance Academy
2nd All I Want – First Steps & Carly Elizabeth School of Dance
3rd= C’Mon Everybody – Lisa Jane School of Dance
3rd= Bruno – Fox King School of Dance
Class 72 Any Dance Adult Duets
1st Malcolm Cuthbertson & Emma Kimsey
2nd Victoria Esme Franklin & Fiona Jane Grace
3rd Christine Gardner & Mary Nutley
Class 81 Any Dance Adult Trios/Quartets
1st Mary Nutley, Christine Gardner, Malcolm Cuthbertson & Emma Kimsey
Class 89 Any Dance Group Adult
1st At the Diner – Lisa Jane School of Dance
2nd Fever – Caroline Graham School of Dance
3rd= Finesse – SDS
3rd= Slow boat to China – Caroline Graham School of Dance
