Performing arts school finds new home in heart of Knaresborough

Freedom Performing Arts has opened new studios at the former Castle Girls School in Knaresborough.

The arts school, which has 380 students aged three to 18, has operated out of the town’s Aspin Park Academy since 2010.

It will continue to run two classes every night at Aspin as well as one nightly class at the new venue in Castle Yard.

Amy Meikle, principal at Freedom Performing Arts, received the keys for the new premises in December last year after plans to open a museum on the site fell through.

Students at Friday’s opening.

She said it cost £25,000 to fully restore the building, which had been empty since it hosted Knaresborough and Harrogate Dance Centre pre-covid.

A ribbon was cut to mark Friday’s opening, which was attended by retired well known local dance teacher Miss Wenda (pictured below), who taught ballet and tap at Freedom before retiring in 2016.

Ms Meikle said being in the Castle Yard, close to the town centre, made the school feel like part of the community:

“I have loved seeing all the new businesses open in Knaresborough this month with more on the way. The town seems to be thriving and we feel super proud to have brought part of our school into the heart of the town centre.

“It really is a dream come true, I can’t believe this is real and I’m so grateful to everyone in my life who has helped make this possible.”

The studio has been completely renovated.

 

How the building looked in December.

Freedom runs a wide range of classes including ballet, tap, street, jazz, musical theatre, modern and acrobatics.

The building holds a strong personal connection for Ms Meikle, who said:

“I was born and bred in Knaresborough and my mum actually attended school in this building back in the 1950s/60s so it really has come full circle.”

The school has been nominated for four awards at Saturday’s Knaresborough Business Awards, organised by Knaresborough Business Collective.

The two-storey former girls school also hosts the 1st Scriven Scout Group.

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Wayne Sleep gives ballet masterclass in Harrogate

World famous dancer Wayne Sleep stepped up to teach students a masterclass in Harrogate today.

Yorkshire Ballet Seminars, which offers three-week residential summer schools for dance students aged nine to 19, started 46 years ago in Ilkley and moved to York in 1999 but its new home is Harrogate’s Ashville College.

Wayne Sleep taught the very first seminar and went on to become a senior principal at the Royal Ballet and once famously danced with Princess Diana.

Today Mr Sleep returned to his roots to inspire the next generation of dancers. He not only passed on advice to students but also showed a few of his signature moves.

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The seminar is now under the directorship of Iain Mackay, who has guided the students through coronavirus and found them a new base in Harrogate. He told the Stray Ferret:

“It’s been better than we could ever have dreamed of. The talent that comes is exceptional, there are some stars of the future in there.

“The year the students have had as well, they have had a lot of online training. So you can see that they are buzzing to be together, which is great.

“If Ashville College will have us we are going to be coming back for the foreseeable. This is a great venue for us and we love Harrogate.

“Wayne is a legend of the ballet world. The world has changed a lot, the art form has changed a lot but it’s really important that students get to work with the greats.”

The latest three-week course has ended now but it will be back in Harrogate next year. It costs £600 per week for a full residential and there are scholarships on offer as well.