Funding boost keeps top dance school open to nationwide talent

A DANCE school where former pupils have gone on to star in films such as Mamma Mia has been given a £224,000 lifeline to ensure children from across the country can attend.

Knightswood School of Dance in Glasgow faced losing its residential accommodation, meaning only local children would have been able to attend.

Parents from other parts of the country, expressed fears their talented youngsters would lose out, if the school lost its national status.

However, the funding boost from the Scottish Government will enable new accommodation to be found by the council.

Traditionally, the school which teaches secondary age children in performing arts from ballet to modern dance and musical theatre, has leased accommodation from Glasgow University.

However, the university is seeking to end the lease on Dalrymple Hall in 2012, which houses around 80 students in the city's West End, so it can sell the building.

Glasgow City Council was also concerned that the residential service came at a high cost which mostly benefited pupils from outwith the city.

But the new financial boost means the council can now create bespoke residences in the school's grounds.

Bailie Jean McFadden, executive member for education at the local authority said: "Glasgow City Council is extremely proud of the Dance School at Knightswood Secondary and the purpose built residential accommodation we are proposing will be a great benefit to young people and their families.

"Former pupils of the Dance School have successfully followed their dreams to study at prestigious colleges in London and America and now tread the boards across the world."

Former pupil Jennifer Leung has acted and danced in films such as Mamma Mia, Nine, and Streetdance 3D.

She said: "It was the most important years of my life. It gave me the discipline and skills to go on to build a successful career.

"We worked so hard and appreciated the special privileges we had at the school, like the talented teachers and the amazing dance studios."

As well as being an ordinary secondary school, Knightswood is one of six national centres, and is the only one in Scotland to specialise in dance.

The others include Douglas Academy in East Dunbartonshire, Broughton High in Edinburgh and Dyce Academy, which specialise in music.

Plockton High School in Wester Ross specialises in traditional music. Bellahouston Academy in Glasgow, which focuses on sport, is the only one not to have accommodation.

Education secretary Michael Russell said: "With many centres of excellence pupils going on to have successful careers in their field, it is vital that Scottish Government supports the important work they carry out in aiding and encouraging some of Scotland's most talented young people."