DanceEast is a dance academy that offers a full vocational course for either BTEC or A- Levels. What is brilliant about it is that they will give you intense training in order to help you fulfill your dream of becoming a dancer. DanceEast will help you with both the academic and performance side of dancing by introducing business studies and technique training/ballet.

The trip to DanceEast was a very early one; most of the five students who went woke up at 4:00am to be at Richmond Station by 6am! The train journey was approximately two and half hours long, we did try to fall asleep on the train but it just wasn't comfortable enough and we were probably nervous for what was to come.

When we were told about the course, no one knew much about it; therefore I think we were worried that it wouldn´t be as amazing as it sounded and  all the effort would have been for nothing. But I´m glad we were proved wrong.

When we arrived at DanceEast, it was honestly impressive because everything was so modern! The building was all colour coordinated and the professional studios were so open and there was lots of space to move around in. The art work displays had many stories behind them, even the photography. They even had a cafe that would be suitable for early mornings, lunch etc.

In the Red Shoe Studio, we had an hour and half of a contemporary technique class and it was so much fun. We needed to really focus and concentrate on instruction given, which was quite easy because we didn´t have the usual distraction we usually have in lessons and also the pressure of exam criteria. But what made the technique lesson easier was that we had a big space studio to dance in, unlike our own dance studio that is quite small.

At the end of the technique class, we were allowed to perform a solo that we either choreographed ourselves or simply knew. I think some of us were under pressure but everyone performed to such a high standard, better then we usually do in class. It must have been either the energy we had or simply because it was bigger studio!

Afterwards we were able to have a discussion with the lady involved with DanceEast and ask any questions we had of the course and how it would benefit us for our futures. This was all very useful.

On our journey back to home, we had a really big discussion about the expenses, accommodation and about auditioning for the DanceEast! It was a very mature and serious conversation because if we got in it would mean we would have to move away from our parents and that is a huge step for any 16 year old student to do. But always we were discussing the passion and determination needed to pursue such a career. We are all aware there may be competition and let downs, and that you would have to stay strong. Overall the whole trip was not only a opportunity to find out about DanceEast but it was an experience to really think about what we want to accomplish in our life and how we are going to have really fight for it no matter what.