Twenty year old Skelmersdale & Ormskirk College student Laura Jayne Sankey has recently been crowned the National Adult Freestyle Disco champion.
The Performing Arts (National Diploma) student stomped through her heats before clinching the all important victory in the final held at the annual dancing festival in Pwllheli, North Wales on Friday 3rd October.
The event is a national competition with competitors coming from all corners of the home nations. Judged on presentation, personality, stamina, strength and finesse to name but a few, Laura wowed judges and spectators alike on route to her final victory.
Laura, a ROXS sponsored dancer who has been dancing since the age of 5, and competing since the age of 6 exclaimed that “It’s a dream come true to be able to compete and win in events like this. I cried when the winner was announced, my mascara was everywhere! I just felt so proud and excited to win the event”.
Although dancing may appear a natural talent of Laura’s, she certainly hasn’t got to where she is without the hard work and dedication needed. She fits in training every week at her sister’s dance workshop – Dancestyles, along with her studies and being a full-time mum of her 2 year old son.
Despite her success and undoubted talents in dancing, Laura describes herself as “never being very academic”, so much so she never studied GCSEs and instead did dance related qualifications which allowed her entrance to the National Diploma in Performing Arts at Skelmersdale & Ormskirk College.
Laura wants to take her talents to the next level and eventually move into the professional performing industry. “I’m hoping to get my National Diploma to try and secure a place at one of the top stage schools in London”, she explained. The course allows her to utilise her performing abilities whilst also gaining academic qualifications that she will need in order to progress to stage school.
When asked about her new academic lifestyle Laura commented “I’m learning new aspects of performing arts that I have never done before such as tap dancing, and how to act, dance and sing professionally which is really widening my skill range. My confidence is growing as the course progresses which wouldn’t happen without the support of the tutors and my classmates”.
It just goes to show that anyone can achieve something if they really dedicate themselves.
For further information on Performing Art courses as Skelmersdale and Ormskirk College or for any other enquiry, please contact course enquiries on ?(01695) 52300.