Ice dance champions

Winstanley College dancers shone at the recent Northern Frostbite Dance Extravaganza held in Manchester.

The college competed in the ‘All Star’ category, which included not just colleges, but dance schools as well, meaning the standard was very high.

Despite some serious competition, the dancers went from underdogs, with only a handful of cheers when welcomed for the first routine, to champions with rapturous applause and high praise throughout the rest of the day.

Winstanley College came first in the hip-hop section, first in the jazz section plus being crowned grand champions – meaning the dancers achieved the highest marks in jazz in the whole competition and also achieved a first in the contemporary section, also achieving grand champion status.

Further successes included 17-year-old student, Amy Deakin, winning her lyrical as a soloist event meaning a chance to compete in the final at Pontins. Winstanley also triumphed in the improvised rounds with the college taking away second and third in hip-hop improv and first in hip-hop partner improv.

Dance teacher, Kelly Birchall, who accompanied the dance troop said: “It was a super successful day with 10 trophies and two champion flags to bring back to college.

“The students were fantastic and a credit to the college; we received so many compliments and congratulations from the judges and other competitors.”