A West Norfolk teenager has earned a place at London’s prestigious Rambert Dance School.
Year 13 Springwood High pupil Leo Rice-Wallen (above) started dancing at the age of 10 at dance school Studio 19, studying ballet, contemporary, jazz and commercial dance, and applied to Rambert via video, before being called to the school in Twickenham for an in-person audition, which included an improvised piece and something he had choreographed himself, before being accepted.
“Before I danced I used to take gymnastics classes which has helped my dancing as I have the flexibility and strength to perform more challenging movements,” he explained.
“I have always been inspired by watching creative movement and finding a personality through dance, which is why contemporary is my favourite style, because of the self-expression it allows. My dance classes take up 12 hours per week, but if you have a passion for something, you’ll find the time for it, so I’ve managed to get the balance between schoolwork and dancing just right.”
One of his big inspirations was Springwood’s head of dance Dawn Paulo who is delighted with the news.
She said: “I am not surprised that he got into the Rambert School and I am so excited for the opportunities he will receive there. He is not a student who gets stressed easily, and so no allowances have been made or needed for him to balance his dancing with his school work.”
She said he is not the first Springwood pupil to get a place there, and several others have also gone on to study at other acting and theatre schools.