SMB College Group’s IGNITE Performing Arts Students stunned the judges in the recent ‘Mass Movement’ competition at The Curve, being shortlisted for the U.Dance National Festival! 

This year, the college’s IGNITE students created a piece called ‘Echos of Us’, inspired by a recent Gecko Theatre piece called ‘Kin’ which explores the impact of immigration on families and communities. The 10-strong group worked with their Lecturer, Cat Webb, to create a piece of choreography with this stimulus in mind.

Evie Hardwick, Foundation Degree Performing Arts student, said ‘This is my second time dancing at Mass Movement and it was such a great day. We’re all so excited to be selected by a panel of experts and proud of IGNITE as we all worked really hard in rehearsals.’

Evie’s fellow Foundation Degree student, Isabelle Edwards, added ‘We had a brilliant day! It was lovely meeting people from other groups and bonding over dance. There were so many amazing dancers of all ages taking part and I really enjoyed the day.'

Cat Webb, Performing Arts Lecturer and Curriculum Quality Lead at SMB College Group, said ‘We had a great day at Curve and loved seeing all the talent across Leicestershire - when we found out we had been shortlisted for the U.Dance festival we were over the moon and totally honoured to have been selected to move to the next stage of the competition!’

‘Mass Movement’ is arranged by FABRIC and ONEDANCEUK and is a nationwide competition that showcases youth dance across the country. The College takes part in the Leicestershire regional and has enjoyed competing at this event for many years. 

If you’re interested in studying Performing Arts at post-16 or degree level, visit the college’s Melton Campus for their IGNITE Open Day in June 2024 to find out more! 

Sign up now: https://www.smbcollegegroup.ac.uk/

IGNITE Performing Arts Students group picture.IGNITE Performing Arts Students group jumping.