Scott Cooper Academy of Drama and Dance finalist in prestigious dance awards

The Scott Cooper Academy

The Scott Cooper Academy of Drama and Dance in Rochdale has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Dance School of the Year Awards 2021.

The Scott Cooper Academy provides classes in drama, musical theatre, singing, ballet, contemporary dance, street dance and gymnastics from its Moss Mill premises in Rochdale. It moved to Moss Mill in 2020 after the closure of the community rooms of St Martin’s Church, Castleton.

Mr Cooper, director of the academy who studied music and education at Liverpool Hope University before studying a master’s degree in music, specialising in musical composition, said that the school was “thrilled to be one of those shortlisted.”

Now in their ninth year, the Dance School of the Year Awards were founded by former dance teacher Anne Walker MBE to celebrate the achievements of dance schools who so often do not receive the recognition they deserve.

Ms Walker said: “Dance teachers should be applauded and celebrated. So much more than just a teacher – they are almost a substitute parent to many of their students as they are role models, mentors and social workers, offering support, stability and a disciplined approach to life.

“Fellow dance teachers have supported me in my career over many years and now I hope, through these awards, we can all celebrate the life-long passion for dance and the achievements of dance teachers everywhere.”

Entries have been received from across the UK and Europe as well as Canada, Ireland, USA, Bahrain, Malaysia, Finland, India and Australia with finalists representing schools of all sizes and all genres from ballet to hip-hop and ballroom to contemporary.

The awards ceremony will be held on Friday 29 October. Trophies are awarded to winners of all categories as well as various certificates and other gifts donated by the sponsors.