Exceptional Talent- (1) Lydia Taylor (Dance)

Naturally team success, whether in music, drama or sport for the school locally and nationally, or in our intramural House competitions, is celebrated throughout the year.

Over the summer a number of our pupils have enjoyed international success either individually or in a representative team. This week we celebrate just a few such pupils, starting today with dancer Lydia Taylor.

As part of the Freeman Dance group, Lydia was thrilled to be able to represent England in the Dance World Cup in Romania. This is the biggest dance competition in the world attracting over 18,000 competitors from 38 different countries and Team England was made up of nearly 400 of the country’s best young dancers, who had all qualified for the competition.

Lydia's troupe did itself and its supporters proud. Entered for two dances, one Irish and one hip-hop, the group did remarkably well coming 5th in the first and 4th in the second, just missing a Bronze medal by 0.3 marks. The standard was naturally very high and Lydia and her team were able to celebrate Team England winning the Dance World Cup overall. (Spain came 2nd and Romania 3rd.)

Not only was Lydia able to enjoy the excitement, pressure and camaraderie of team competition, but she was also able to share the experience with her family and enjoy a fantastic visit to Romania.

Original photography by the Taylor family.