Orford: STUDENTS of a dance academy in Orford are looking forward to their debut performance at the Parr Hall after receiving outstanding results from a recent examination.

Carrie Leather, aged 36, quit her job as a professional dancer 16 months ago to return to her hometown and begin her own dance academy from scratch.

Now her class is 70-strong and many students have taken their first ballet and modern theatre examinations. Examiners passed 100 per cent of Carrie’s students with 99 per cent attaining the highest grade with a distinction.

Carrie said: “The examination success has been the highlight for me so far.

“I have been involved in preparing children for exams like these before, but this is the first time it has been my class, so it was really exciting.”

The class, based at the Orford Jubilee hub, is now looking forward to its first live show at the Parr Hall next year with all 70 children set to be involved. The show will also include a performance from John Moses – a finalist on last year’s ITV show, Superstar.

Carrie added: “It’s important to have this show to look forward to, especially for the younger ones who were not old enough to take the examination yet.”

The show is scheduled for Saturday, July 26. Tickets will be available from the Orford Jubilee Hub.