news story

28th September 2009

Thornbury Boy's Teenage Dance Group Performs for MPs

Steve Webb MP with members of the dance group. Tom is in the blue t-shirt, third from left in the picture

Thornbury teenager and Castle School pupil Tom Shale-Coates has been making waves on the South West dance scene. Tom's dance teacher at the Castle School, Miss Lane, identified Tom's talent two years ago and he won a place at Swindon's youth dance academy where he has attended practice sessions every Saturday. Tom, who is in Year 11, has also danced as part of advertising campaigns.

Most recently Tom was selected to join a small group of boys from across the South West to perform in Bournemouth in front of MPs and peers to celebrate the anniversary of the Bournemouth ballroom. Northavon MP Steve Webb (who is pictured with Tom and other members of the group) called in on the group's rehearsals whilst he was attending the recent Lib Dem conference in Bournemouth to see the group in action and to wish them well.

Commenting, Steve said:

"I was very impressed to see a group of young men performing to such a high standard. It was clear from the rehearsal that I watched that this form of dance is physically demanding but also offers a means of expression. The group did their own choreography and clearly put a lot of themselves into the performance".