Newbury dance group celebrates 20 years with pizza and fizz

ACE Dance Studios recently took over Pizza Express in the Market Place, Newbury, to celebrate their 20th anniversary.

Artistic director Laura Kelleher-Byrne welcomed more than 70 guests from across the two decades, including Kirsty Hunter, Helen Bonner and Alexandra Vevers who were in the original company.

They have since found success with local and global arts organisations including Hofesh Schechter, The Brit School and The Corn Exchange, Newbury.

“I was overwhelmed by the amount of people who took the time to come back to Newbury to celebrate and share their experiences of being in ACE and where they are now,” said Laura.

“We have always prided ourselves on creating strong bonds with our company, that is inclusive, creative and safe.

“Seeing people from across the years sharing this same experience made this a truly joyous event.”

Founded in 2003, ACE began as a senior dance company. Laura was inspired by an article in the Newbury Weekly News about Kofi Walker, who was breaking ground, encouraging cultural diversity and increasing male participation through his work as dancer in residence at Park House School.

Together they established ACE Dance Company as an opportunity for the wealth of talent in the area to further their potential through professional training.

Today, the company comprises more than 200 young people from toddlers to teens and adult classes, offering ballroom and Latin, contemporary, street dance and much more. These are delivered by Laura and her ACE team of 10 professional dance practitioners.

ACE support and arrange several productions and dance platforms across the year, which includes performers from the wider West Berkshire dance community, assisted by a technical team featuring Vicky Allen (lighting design) and Howard White of DZPhoto.

“It was a truly family affair and the team at Pizza Express, who actually came up with the idea for a party, could not have done more to make sure it went off with a bang,” Laura added.

“Here’s to the next 20 years!”