Banbridge Academy students perform in the NICMAC Dance Competition

Banbridge Academy Dance Team, comprising of 49 pupils from Years 8-14, recently took part in the NICMAC Dance Competition hosted in Lisburn Leisureplex.  Following a hiatus in competition as a result of the pandemic, we were delighted to enter three teams into this prestigious regional competition.  Our Junior Dance team, involving 25 Year 8-10 students, performed a stylish routine choreographed to ‘The Schuyler Sisters’ from Hamilton; the Senior Lyrical team performed a sensitive routine ‘Symphony’ whilst the Senior Dance team, consisting of 24 Year 10-14 students, won Bronze in the Senior Schools’ Teams section for their energetic and upbeat interpretation of ‘You Don’t Even Know It’ from the musical Everyone’s Talking about Jamie.

The teams were competing against schools from across the province including Regent House, Glenlola, Strathearn, Bloomfield Collegiate and the Royal School, Armagh.  In addition to the team events, individual pupils were entered into Senior Duet and Trio sections, with Year 13 pupils Samara Radcliffe and Caitlyn Colgan performing a compelling duet and Year 13 pupils Mia Downey, Ruby Bushby and Lauren Bell obtaining Gold in the Senior Trio section for a touching routine devised by the girls themselves.  The squad, choreographed by Mrs Ruth Cobb (herself a former pupil of the Academy) and managed by Mrs Jennifer Neill and Miss Rebekah Warnock, has shown great school spirit, their commitment has been unwavering and they have worked really hard to gain recognition in their chosen field.  Well done to all involved.