Thatcham Thrives Dance Gala at Kennet School was a sell-out

Thatcham has been tapping into its creative side this week with the start of its annual town-wide festival.

Children as young as five-years-old to adults in their 50s with different levels of experience all put their best foot forward for the Thatcham Thrives Dance Gala.

This year was the event’s biggest yet, with 14 dance groups performing and around 250 dancers involved in the two completely sold-out performances.

The standard this year was said to be “higher than ever before” and featured a range of dance styles from ballet and Indian classical to tap, street dance contemporary and Ukrainian national dance.

The show was rounded off with a finale of freestyle ribbon dancing from all participating groups.

Organiser Sonia Brown said: “It's wonderful that every year, more and more schools are applying for Thatcham Thrives Dance Gala, including many returning groups.

“I think this is down to the fantastic supportive and inclusive environment backstage created by all the dance participants, along with a superb team of volunteers to make the event run super efficiently.”

“This year was our best yet,” she continued.

“I was blown away by the standard, and it was clear that every group had put in a lot of work to prepare and this paid off as they looked like they were having the time of their lives on stage.

“It's always a mad day for me, as I have teacher and performer hats on with my own 'Dance With Sonia Brown' dancers, and I’m also co-ordinating the gala itself, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

“It's such fun.”