His Royal Highness, the Duke of Kent, received a royal welcome at Swindon Dance this week during a visit to the town. Local MP Justin Tomlinson was joined by the Mayor of Swindon and Artistic Director, Marie McCluskey, to welcome the Duke to The Old Town Hall in Regent Circus.
Swindon Dance, a not-for-profit organisation, offers various youth and community-outreach programmes to people in Swindon who have a keen interest in dance. It serves people of all ages by offering classes in ballet, contemporary, urban, tap, street and jazz. Particularly celebrated is the Youth Dance Academy which offers advanced training to youngsters who demonstrate enough talent which can potentially lead to a professional career.
A supporter of the Royal Ballet, His Royal Highness was treated to a number of special performances - from ballet to hip hop - by some of the professional dancers who have progressed through Swindon Dance. His visit also presented an opportunity for those who have supported Swindon Dance over the years, to meet the HRH and be congratulated for all of their efforts.
Having campaigned in Parliament for an increase in the amount of activity young people do each week, Justin has long been a supporter of Swindon Dance.
Justin Tomlinson MP said "Swindon Dance offers something for everybody. Not only does it promote healthy activity through its many classes, but it also provides a real opportunity for talented young people to develop further into the world of dance. I am glad that Swindon Borough Council continue to part-fund this excellent initiative alongside the Department for Education and the Arts Council England. We should all be grateful that here in Swindon, we have a fantastic organisation that is enabling our young people to access dance and enjoy the positive impact it has on their well-being."
