THIS month has seen the Wharfedale Festival of Performing Arts Dance Championship, an annual event which takes place over two weekends at Guiseley Theatre each November.

Dancers from all over the north of England arrived en masse to perform before an enthusiastic crowd of their peers and supporters showing talents in many disciplines. On show were examples from ballet, tap, national, classical, modern, character, cabaret, song and dance, Greek and more, all demonstrated by dancers aged from under five years to those aged 16 plus either individually or in combinations of duos, trios and groups – a veritable feast. And you have not lived if you have never experienced the ‘kinder class’ ballet for the under fives.

One of the major attractions of this Festival is the opportunity to enter the heats for the ‘Miss Dance of Great Britain’ Competition. As ever this was vastly oversubscribed: Mrs Ivy Wailes is allowed to take up to 45 entries for this but confided that had it been allowed, she could have taken 145! This takes place on the first Saturday evening and gives the winning dancer aged 16 and over the opportunity to compete in the Winter Gardens at Blackpool next June against other finalists. A prize of thousands of pounds is awarded but more importantly, doors are opened to a career in dance. Our winner this year was Grace Hawkesworth from Wakefield with second place going to Imogen Amos from Leeds.

The Championship in Guiseley gives its own awards to performers and this year dancers from Nottingham, Kendal and Lancashire were represented in addition to those from local schools. Many of those who have to travel to take part decide to spend the weekend in our area and have sent emails expressing their enthusiasm for performing, their appreciation of the adjudicator and the anticipation of returning for next year, whether or not they were winners.

Adjudicator Denise Skinner of the IDTA thanked organiser Ivy Wailes and her team for two weekends of excellent dancing. The team in particular, who were on duty from 7am until 9pm every day on both weekends, deserved enormous credit for their hard work and stamina and for so many hours of dedication to giving children the opportunity to shine. The fact that the Dance Championship is always so well attended is a tribute to them.

Pat Dibb

General Secretary, WFPA

Winners of Silver Salvers for achieving the highest mark in each year group

Kinder Class- 5 years and under: Evie Leigh Smith

Class A (6, 7, 8 years): Jemima Escreet

Class B (9, 10, 11 years): Gabrielle Slinger

Class C (12, 13, 14 years: Jessica Wood

Class D (15 years and over): Alice Olby

Junior Novice (11 years and under): Olivia Leather

Senior Novice (12 years and over): Ruby Drakes

Junior Impromptu (11 years and under: Grace Walton

Senior Impromptu (12 years and over): Maisy Green

Duet Winners: Alice Olby and Abigail Calvert

Trio Winners: Maddie Unsworth; Alice Walster; Olivia Anstey

Trophy Winners

Kinder Cup: Alicia Raja

Horsforth Trophy: Eleanor Sharp

Nikki Ellen Trophy: Alice Olby

Isadora Trophy: Emma West

Endeavour Trophy: Felicity Holman

Horsforth Junior Group Trophy: Cornell School of Dance

Cynthia Carr Senior Group Trophy: Deana Morgan Academy

Jack Sharp Trophy: Alice Olby

Bursaries

The Anne Howells Bursary Award of £100 (for additional dance training): Gabrielle Slinger

The Denis Sharp Memorial Bursary (to attend a residential summer school): Grace Hall