Moss Mill move for Scott Cooper Academy of Drama and Dance

The Scott Cooper Academy of Drama and Dance has moved to new premises at Moss Mill in Rochdale.

The move followed the closure of the group's previous venue in the community rooms of St Martin’s Church, Castleton, which could not reopen due to Covid-19 social distancing restrictions.

Scott Cooper, director of the academy, said: “I decided to base our new home in Rochdale; if we didn’t go for our new venue and make the move, we would inevitably have closed down. We spent three weeks restoring a unit in Moss Mill ready for the opening day in September.”

The opening of the new venue was celebrated with cakes and balloons and saw a one-way system in place throughout the third-floor studio, hand sanitiser stations and visitors having to register online before attending.

The academy has completed a risk assessment and put in place measures to make it Covid secure including regular cleaning between classes, 2-metre separated coloured spots on the floor that read ‘please stand here’ and banners reminding parents to 'drop off and go'.

 

 

 

Mr Cooper, who studied music and education at Liverpool Hope University before studying a master's in music, specialising in musical composition, added: “We currently teach drama, gymnastics, dance and ballet two days a week and are hoping to introduce extra classes soon. Sadly, our musical theatre and singing offerings are on hold due to coronavirus restrictions, but we aim to set up a pop choir in future to compliment the drama side.

“Before lockdown, our Castleton group had just been cast for our next show Sister Act Jr and then the national lockdown kicked in. But, if some restrictions are lifted, we're hoping to get a musical production underway in time for spring 2021, to be streamed to an audience online.

“Our numbers have gone through the roof since re-opening, which is fantastic. We have over 80 children attending over the two nights we’re open, spread out across five classes, with thorough cleaning taking place for 15 minutes between each class."

He concluded: "Most of the kids attending now are new faces and we have had nothing but good feedback. It has been nice to meet new parents from the community of Rochdale and I want to thank them for all their support and warm welcome they have given us.”