J’s Dance Factory now have a performance group which will represent J’s Dance Factory in some competitions and shows. There will be auditions to join the group throughout the year! The group have already auditioned for a popular CBBC show and have been booked for shows throughout the summer so watch this space.

Today we celebrated the achievements of over 80 of our Forest Hill students in their annual IDTA presentation and show. The show was presented by ITV newsreader Charlene White and performance poet Mark ‘Mr T’ Thompson. It was a very proud day and all who attended really enjoyed the show. The audience were treated to a great medley of dance routines as well as seeing the children pick up the awards they worked so hard for. Special recognition was given to the most improved student and the best performer. Lemar-Francis Douglas became the third student to collect the Daniel De-Gale dedication to dance award which recognises dedication to dance.

We had a fantastic time with J’s Dance Factory families and friends at our charity ball. The costumes were great and we raised lots of much needed cash for the ACLT! A big thank you to Sharon from Neo Uno hair salon who worked with the J’s Dance Factory team to produce this fabulous event; thanks to Jel and Everton Taylor of Taylormade entertainment for providing a great disco; and Partydaze Sydenham for donating the decorations!

We were so please to launch our new branch of J’s Dance Factory in the stylish studios of Newham Leisure Centre. It was a great success and all here at J’s Dance Factory are sure that the success will continue!

Over twenty young people aged between 3 and 17 enrolled and a great time was had by all! We are really looking forward to seeing how all of the dancers will develop over the years and we are so excited to be working with the great staff down at the leisure centre. Special thanks must go to the whole team who helped on the day and of course Simone for the beautiful orange and black cup cakes.

On the 27th November seven J’s Dance Factory students joined J’s Dance Factory Principal and founder Jessica Elliott at the ‘star studded’ Sprit of London awards at the O2 arena in London. The awards is billed as the ‘Community Oscars’ and celebrates the achievements of Londoners. The awards were launched in 2009 by the Damilola Taylor Trust with 3,500 nominations being received from across the 33 Boroughs of London. The project was created by the Trust as a way of addressing the imbalance in the way young people are portrayed by the national media in general. Jessica won the Community Entrepreneurs category. Competition was extremely tough. Her award was presented by Apprentice winner Tim Campbell. This is a fantastic achievement for her and it was great that some of the students could join her. The event was hosted by Football Factory star Tamar Hassan and Olympic athlete Tasha Davers. There were performances by Flawless, Toploader, Roll deep and Alexandra Burke to name a few.

Click here to see Jessica collecting her award.

Click here to view the entire show.

Some of the students at J’s Dance Factory joined nine other dance schools in a great show put on by Jessica and Dancing After School (J’s Dance Factory sister company) . The show raised lots of much needed funds for the ACLT and everyone is looking forward to next year’s event.