50 years ago, after an advert in a local shop in 1976, Ann Marchant founded KSTD with a handful of pupils. The school now has 250 students, seven teachers, running over 40 weekly classes across 10 different genres at three venues.
To celebrate this milestone anniversary over 200 KSTD pupils aged from three years to adults entertained audiences across 3 shows at Loughborough Town in ‘Golden’ with dazzling costumes and fantastic choreography in all aspects of performing arts.
A documentary-style film opened Act 2, displaying past pupils reminiscing about their time at KSTD and over 50 former pupils returned to the school to appear on stage as part of the Memory Lane dance performing to Chorus Line. The show raised an amazing £7009.62 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Paul Harris, treasurer of the Rushcliffe Macmillan Cancer Support Group wrote to KSTD congratulating the school on the impressive donation and for bringing dance, music and drama to the community for 50 years.
Ann attended a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on Friday 8th May after being invited to commemorate this milestone birthday of the school and as an honour for the money she has donated to various charities over the years. Kirsty, Ann’s daughter, was thrilled to attend with Ann as her guest. Kirsty produced the Golden show and said: “It was a lovely to relax in the grounds of Buckingham Palace after all the hard work.”
Ann said: “It is hard to believe it has been 50 years. When I first started, I could never have imagined the school would grow in the way it has. Over the decades, I have been surrounded by a wonderful team at KSTD and countless helpers at our shows, each playing an invaluable role in supporting the school and the various charities we have been proud to contribute to. I feel truly privileged to have shared in so many journeys.”
Ann, Kirsty and all the team were all deeply proud of all the KSTD pupils for their amazing performances. They said ‘putting on a show of this size requires a huge team effort, not only in planning and preparing the show but the actual weekend itself.
An audience member commented: “It is evident the strong connection amongst the performers and the family feel the school has, which transfers to the stage. You can see how supportive the dancers are with each other.”
The feedback from the show has been outstanding with many pupils inspired to start new genres and there have been lots of new enquiries. KSTD host several examinations each year with the International Dance Teacher’s Association to allow pupils to progress through the grades and medal tests and to gain IDTA qualifications.
To our pupils who successfully auditioned for English Youth Ballet’s Swan Lake at Theatre Royal, Nottingham on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th July, we wish them all the best for this production. KSTD team up with MTW to provide Musical Theatre Workshops in the school holidays and have a 3-day workshop based on Moana on 10th to 12th August.