Competition dresses to nurture local talent at The Dance Base

We are delighted to announce we’re supporting The Dance Base in the purchase of competition dresses to help their students compete at a national level.

Based in Great Yarmouth, The Dance Base teach Ballroom and Latin dancing, making the sport accessible to both adults and children, from complete beginners to more experienced levels. The organisation has over 200 members and offers opportunities for members to compete across the country and even internationally.

An increasing number of children are reaching competition level, meaning more competition dresses are needed to enable them to compete at national competitions, including the National Grand Finals in Blackpool. Megan Reeves, The Dance Base Director, is focused on supporting families who, due to limited finances, would otherwise not be able to afford to take classes nor compete.

From a young age, Megan from Gorleston, worked three jobs to help pay for her own dresses and lessons and has since achieved working with Strictly stars, appearing on national television, as well as competing nationally and internationally. Megan set up The Dance Base to support and encourage local talent, with a strong focus on keeping costs down so the sport is as accessible as possible to families in the area and to enable talented children to achieve their best at competition level. In order to keep costs down for dance students’ parents, competition dresses, usually £100 each, are currently purchased by Megan using her own personal funds. Megan sought funding to enable her to offer more places for children wishing to compete.

Megan said “We cannot thank Great Yarmouth Sport and Leisure Trust enough for their support. With their help, it means that we can share our love and passion with our community, as well as helping to cherish and nurture the talent of local dancers. This fund will allow us to financially support those with lower incomes to reach the highs of competing in the home of ballroom dancing, Blackpool Winter Gardens. We will be able to provide uniform and fabulous competition dresses for those who may not otherwise be able to participate in such wonderful events. We welcome everyone, from any background, to our studio and our fabulous ballroom world and funds like this help us to make it as accessible and inclusive as we possibly can.”

For the latest news on The Dance Base, visit their website and follow on Facebook and Instagram.

We wish The Dance Base continued success for the future and look forward to seeing their progress along the way.

If you are part of an amazing sport or leisure team and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in May 2023.

Broadway Bella’s set the barre higher

We’re delighted to announce we’re supporting Broadway Bella’s with funding for a ballet barre and dance equipment.

The musical theatre company’s director, Gabriella Harvey-Mobbs has run Broadway Bella’s for the past 2 years and it was our pleasure to support Gabriella back in November 2020 with new uniforms and equipment to help her with start-up costs. 

Broadway Bella’s has gone from strength to strength and has now secured a studio in Great Yarmouth for their local qualified and experienced tutors to teach their 200+ members, from two years old to adult. Their new studio was previously a spray centre unit and has so far cost Broadway Bella’s £6,000 to renovate. Gabriella is hoping the renovated studio will provide a valuable resource not only for them to develop their classes, but also for fitness classes, such as Pilates and boxercise, so the whole community can be involved.

Gabriella is using the latest funding for dance equipment, such as ribbons and instruments to enhance lessons for their Broadway Baby classes; a speaker system for other classes; heaters for the comfort of their members; and a ballet barre.

The company are constantly expanding and wish to provide high quality, comfortable classes to all their members. They aim to provide the very best experience for their members and to continue to provide affordable classes to the local community. From the amazing feedback they receive, it’s clear their members feel the classes have improved their confidence and helped both their physical and mental health.

“We are so delighted to receive this grant, so kindly given by Great Yarmouth Sport & Leisure Trust. Broadway Bella's has grown rapidly in the last 6 months and now have 200 students and are ever growing. The studio allows us to have a home for all of our classes and the funding will be going towards new equipment for our studio. Not only will the base be used for singing and dance, but fitness classes and wellness classes, an amazing hub for the Borough. Thank you so much again.” Gabriella Harvey- Mobbs, Director.

Broadway Bella’s are busy preparing for two shows this year in July and November at St George’s Theatre.

We wish Broadway Bella’s every success for the future and look forward to seeing their progress along the way.

For the latest news on Broadway Bella’s, follow them on their website, Facebook and Instagram.

If you are part of an amazing sport or leisure team and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in September 2022.

New mats for performing arts academy’s gymnastics and new mindfulness classes

We’re delighted to announce we’re supporting DPA Performing Arts Academy with new mats for their gymnastic and new mindfulness classes.

Based at Longs Business Estate in Gorleston-on-Sea, the academy offers performing arts and fitness classes for children and young people. DPA currently has 102 members, enjoying classes including Imagine for children 18 months to 4 years; Impact, Ignite & Inspire for children aged 5 years+; BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Musical Theatre for young people aged 16+; ballet training, holiday workshops and a pro-industry masterclass. DPA is also an ISTD Approved Dance Centre so young people aged 17+ can gain a Level 4 Diploma in Dance Education.

Established in 2010, DPA bridges the gap between drama clubs and further education performing arts establishments. The charity has helped hundreds of children over last 11 years, continually growing by offering new classes and fundraising. Their latest fundraising campaign aims to raise almost £20,000 for a new floor to be installed.  

The academy aims to engage more young people in their classes and are in the process of creating a new fitness and mindfulness-based class. To make classes affordable for everyone, all classes are subsidised, and scholarships are offered for children that could not attend without financial help.

DPA Principal, Karen Thompson said “Just wanted to thank you - all our mats, balls and bands have been purchased and the children are so happy. We have been able to offer three free spaces in the class, thanks to the funding.”

We wish DPA Performing Arts Academy every success for the future and look forward to seeing their progress along the way.

For the latest news on DPA Performing Arts Academy, follow on their website, Facebook and Instagram.

If you are part of an amazing sport or leisure team and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in May 2022.

Equipment for new and exciting dance and musical theatre company

We’re delighted to support Isabella Weller with equipment to ensure success in her new start-up: Isabella’s Dance and Musical Theatre Company.

Isabella is a dance/musical theatre teacher based at Gorleston Pavilion Theatre and currently has 65 students with more waiting in the wings to join up. Investing her own funds into her new venture, Isabella needed help with purchasing an iPad for storing choreography videos, music, and admin tasks, so she can continue to teach her online classes and her workshops and group classes which are due to start again in mid-April.

The funding will also be used to purchase dance mats and ribbons for Isabella’s babies’ classes and balance boards and yoga mats for other classes. The current timetable includes Bella’s Ballerinas, and musical theatre classes for babies, juniors, and seniors.

Isabella wants to encourage young people to be interested in the performing arts, including dancing, singing, fitness and performing and her future plans include showcasing the company’s student talent in events such as local fetes, charity events, carnivals and shows.

In receiving the funding, Isabella said “I am extremely grateful to have been given this grant, the money will be going towards a new iPad which will benefit me and the students massively. With starting this business on my own and funding everything myself, the new and up to date iPad will be a very important asset to my business. I cannot wait to open and meet all my new students and get started with rehearsals for upcoming local performances. Thank you very much!!”.

We wish Isabella every success in her new venture and look forward to seeing her progress along the way.

For the latest news on Isabella’s Dance and Musical Theatre Company, follow on Facebook and Instagram.

If you are part of an amazing sport or leisure team and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in May 2021.

Broadway Bella’s receive funding to support new theatre business

WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS. WHILE YOU AND YOUR TEAMS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MEET IN PERSON, PLEASE #STAYHOMESTAYACTIVE. 

Broadland Bella’s performing

We’re delighted to announce we’ve supported Broadway Bella’s, a new theatre school based around singing and dance. In their first week, they attracted over thirty members and a waiting list almost immediately. The group rehearses at Gorleston Pavilion and Scratby Parish Hall. 

Broadland Bella’s Founders

The grant will go towards new uniforms and new equipment. Hardware is needed to support the running of classes, and music to be able to provide a smoother and more professional experience to the students. This will also encourage more people to sign up to Broadway Bella’s, as well bring more recognition for the SEN class. 

Gabriella Harvey-Mobbs, Co-Founder said: "We’ve been so overwhelmed with the response to Broadway Bella’s, and this funding is going to help us to teach these children to the best of our ability. We’ve funded this company between us from day one. This additional funding from the Trust will allow us to get proper technology such as speakers to allow these children and their parents to have the best experience possible. We already support some children with learning difficulties and this money will make it so much easier for us to buy supplies to make their experience as positive as is possible. Thank you so much!" 

You can follow their progress Facebook and Instagram, and we wish them all the best.

If you are part of an amazing sport or leisure team and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in February 2021.