One month down and five to go: Platform School of Dance is gearing up for another year of music, movement and creativity with preparations for 2024’s summer performance already underway.

With the most recent set of exams completed last November with a 100 per cent pass rate, Platform’s owner and founder Sarah Provins is kicking off the coaching for the new routines this January.

Winchester-based Platform School of Dance was founded in October 2005 by IDTA-qualified dance teacher Sarah and her university friend.

Sarah said they had completed a “dance management module in our [university] course”, which included forming a hypothetical company along with business plans.

Sarah achieved a high score on the module and was encouraged by her lecturer to do it in real life so she did. 

Hampshire Chronicle:

When asked what had been her biggest career success so far, Sarah said: “When we won an award for the best start-up business in the Winchester Business Awards 2007."

This was only a year and a half after Platform’s opening.

This year, the annual dance show is being held on Saturday, July 13 at the Berry Theatre, Hedge End.

Sarah explained that she had started the planning and choreography for the performances back in December, a tight turn-around after the finish of the optional exams offered by the dance school.

She said: “It’s going to be lots of fun, there’s going to be a wide range of ages taking part.”

The routines will include Latin American and Street, with features of Modern, Salsa and Fun Dance.

Sarah said she is most excited for the larger classes to perform, because like a lot of businesses, Platform had its clientele knocked significantly by the pandemic. However, it seems that Platform has drivingly picked itself back up:

She said: "I think our class sizes have gone back to the big sizes that we had before that, so I’m looking forward to seeing them on the stage together.” 

Perhaps the biggest upcoming event for Sarah and her dance school is Platform’s 20th anniversary, which will be celebrated in October 2025.

Sarah said she is planning an exciting Platform Party to mark the occasion, along with an extra special annual show.

For the school’s 10th anniversary, Platform’s show “brought back lots of iconic dances”, so we can only imagine what’s coming next year.

As for the party, Sarah said: "We want to celebrate it with all of the children, all of the adults…we might throw some kind of event where everyone can come to, and we can all celebrate together.”

Platform School of Dance offers lessons to everybody, from children aged four and over, and to adults side-stepping into their senior years. They also host events like summer schools, Halloween workshops and Christmas parties.

Find them on Facebook, or on Instagram @platform_school_of_dance.

  • This article was written by Carla Horsfield, from Peter Symonds College as part of Newsquest's Young Reporter Scheme.