PAST PUPIL SUCCESS

Alexandra Wright
Alex joined Mavlow School of Dance in 1993 at the age of 3, and showed real potential even in Baby Class. At the age of 6, she started Private Lessons and won many Medals and Trophies at the ADA [Allied Dancing Association] Easter Festival Dancing Competition in Kirkby, and also at the Allied North West Championships at the same venue. At the age of 8, when she was studying Grade 2 Ballet, she successfully auditioned for a place in the Royal Ballet Junior Associates Scheme in Manchester, and at the age of 10, she was one of only 5 out of 20 Junior Associates to successfully progress to the Mid-Associates Program. At the age of 11, she won a scholarship to the Hammond School in Chester to attend full time dance training alongside her academic studies.
At the age of 16, Alex auditioned for a place at the famous English National Ballet School in London, and was subsequently offered a place, which she took up in September 2006. After 2 years, Alex decided she wanted to cover more styles of dance, as she missed doing them after the variety of subjects she had covered in the past, and so she auditioned for a place at Laines Theatre Arts School in London, for her final year of training.
After her year at Laines, Alex began to audition for various performances, shows and cruises, eventually securing a job as a professional dancer on board the Azura Cruise Ship, run by P&O Cruises, where she danced alongside Josh Topping (see below) who had also secured a contract on the Azura. Following a couple of contracts on there, Alex then did some work on land, performing with Spirit Productions towards the end of 2013. Alex followed that up with another Cruise Ship contract, again with P&O, performing on the Ventura Cruise Ship, with her sister Sophie, as a singer and dancer. Alex also performed in the world famous production of Cats, playing the role of Bombalurina, on board the biggest cruise ship in the world, the Oasis of the Seas. More recently, Alex has just finished a successful 18 month run with Anything Goes, both at the Barbican in the West End, and the highly successful UK Tour that followed. She has also just co-founded the "West End Arts Academy", a specialist academy that provides regular musical theatre workshops to aspiring performers aged 7 to 18, and has just been cast in the famous show "White Christmas" for the upcoming UK Tour.
Alex joined Mavlow School of Dance in 1993 at the age of 3, and showed real potential even in Baby Class. At the age of 6, she started Private Lessons and won many Medals and Trophies at the ADA [Allied Dancing Association] Easter Festival Dancing Competition in Kirkby, and also at the Allied North West Championships at the same venue. At the age of 8, when she was studying Grade 2 Ballet, she successfully auditioned for a place in the Royal Ballet Junior Associates Scheme in Manchester, and at the age of 10, she was one of only 5 out of 20 Junior Associates to successfully progress to the Mid-Associates Program. At the age of 11, she won a scholarship to the Hammond School in Chester to attend full time dance training alongside her academic studies.
At the age of 16, Alex auditioned for a place at the famous English National Ballet School in London, and was subsequently offered a place, which she took up in September 2006. After 2 years, Alex decided she wanted to cover more styles of dance, as she missed doing them after the variety of subjects she had covered in the past, and so she auditioned for a place at Laines Theatre Arts School in London, for her final year of training.
After her year at Laines, Alex began to audition for various performances, shows and cruises, eventually securing a job as a professional dancer on board the Azura Cruise Ship, run by P&O Cruises, where she danced alongside Josh Topping (see below) who had also secured a contract on the Azura. Following a couple of contracts on there, Alex then did some work on land, performing with Spirit Productions towards the end of 2013. Alex followed that up with another Cruise Ship contract, again with P&O, performing on the Ventura Cruise Ship, with her sister Sophie, as a singer and dancer. Alex also performed in the world famous production of Cats, playing the role of Bombalurina, on board the biggest cruise ship in the world, the Oasis of the Seas. More recently, Alex has just finished a successful 18 month run with Anything Goes, both at the Barbican in the West End, and the highly successful UK Tour that followed. She has also just co-founded the "West End Arts Academy", a specialist academy that provides regular musical theatre workshops to aspiring performers aged 7 to 18, and has just been cast in the famous show "White Christmas" for the upcoming UK Tour.

Sophie Sass
Sophie is Alex's younger sister. She started at Mavlow School of Dance in 1995 at the age of 3, started a Private Lesson at the age of 6, and was, like Alex, very successful, winning many Medals and Trophies. At the age of 11, Sophie won an assisted place to attend the Hammond School in Chester for full time training alongside academic work.
Whilst at Hammond, Sophie featured in an episode of ITV's long running series Heartbeat, playing the younger version of an elderly dancer. After finishing at Hammond, Sophie began to attend auditions for dance jobs, and also did some television advertising work. Her first dance job was on the Azura Cruise Ship (P&O Cruises), followed swiftly by the Ventura (also P&O). After a short gap, Sophie did a Christmas season of Panto in Derby before returning to the Ventura Cruise Ship, this time alongside her sister Alex, and with an additional role as Dance Captain, before returning to perform on board the Azura Cruise Ship (P&O Cruises). At the present time, Sophie is performing in the ensemble in The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre in the West End.
Sophie is Alex's younger sister. She started at Mavlow School of Dance in 1995 at the age of 3, started a Private Lesson at the age of 6, and was, like Alex, very successful, winning many Medals and Trophies. At the age of 11, Sophie won an assisted place to attend the Hammond School in Chester for full time training alongside academic work.
Whilst at Hammond, Sophie featured in an episode of ITV's long running series Heartbeat, playing the younger version of an elderly dancer. After finishing at Hammond, Sophie began to attend auditions for dance jobs, and also did some television advertising work. Her first dance job was on the Azura Cruise Ship (P&O Cruises), followed swiftly by the Ventura (also P&O). After a short gap, Sophie did a Christmas season of Panto in Derby before returning to the Ventura Cruise Ship, this time alongside her sister Alex, and with an additional role as Dance Captain, before returning to perform on board the Azura Cruise Ship (P&O Cruises). At the present time, Sophie is performing in the ensemble in The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre in the West End.

Joshua Topping
Josh joined Mavlow School of Dance at Easter 2002, at the age of 9, coming into the Modern Jazz and Tap Class. Not long after he started, he decided that he'd like to be a choreographer in the future. He did his first show with Mavlow in 2003, and started taking Medal Tests and Exams from December 2003.
At the age of 16, Josh was successful in securing a place on a full time dance course at Dolphin Dance Studios in Liverpool, where he studied for 4 years. Whilst at college, he also took part in many Ballroom Dancing Competitions, winning the majority, and during his last year at college, he began taking part in dance auditions up and down the country.
On the run up to the 2012 London Olympic Games, Josh had the honour of performing at live Olympic Torch Events on the run up to the games. He followed this up with his first cruise ship contract, performing as a Professional Dancer on the Azura Cruise Ship (P&O Cruises), and by coincidence, this was the same ship Alex Wright was on, and they performed together as part of the cast for the duration of the 6 month contract.
When Josh finished his contract with P&O, it wasn't long before he was offered a 17 Month Contract with Princess Cruises, which he took, and in October 2013, he jetted off to LA for a month of rehearsals before flying down to Australia to board the Dawn Princess, which he stayed on until March 2014, before coming home for a 2 month vacation. Josh spent the remainder of that contract on board the Sun Princess, touring Japan and Eastern Asia. After another couple of months as home, he followed this up with another Princess contract, dancing on board the Ruby Princess from the end of 2014 right through to June 2015. In August 2015, Josh joined the cast on board the Star Princess for a shorter contract through till January 2016. After completing that contract, he made the switch to Celebrity Cruises (part of the Royal Caribbean Fleet). To this day, Josh continues to perform on Cruise Ships around the world, where he has spent the majority of his successful dance career.
Josh joined Mavlow School of Dance at Easter 2002, at the age of 9, coming into the Modern Jazz and Tap Class. Not long after he started, he decided that he'd like to be a choreographer in the future. He did his first show with Mavlow in 2003, and started taking Medal Tests and Exams from December 2003.
At the age of 16, Josh was successful in securing a place on a full time dance course at Dolphin Dance Studios in Liverpool, where he studied for 4 years. Whilst at college, he also took part in many Ballroom Dancing Competitions, winning the majority, and during his last year at college, he began taking part in dance auditions up and down the country.
On the run up to the 2012 London Olympic Games, Josh had the honour of performing at live Olympic Torch Events on the run up to the games. He followed this up with his first cruise ship contract, performing as a Professional Dancer on the Azura Cruise Ship (P&O Cruises), and by coincidence, this was the same ship Alex Wright was on, and they performed together as part of the cast for the duration of the 6 month contract.
When Josh finished his contract with P&O, it wasn't long before he was offered a 17 Month Contract with Princess Cruises, which he took, and in October 2013, he jetted off to LA for a month of rehearsals before flying down to Australia to board the Dawn Princess, which he stayed on until March 2014, before coming home for a 2 month vacation. Josh spent the remainder of that contract on board the Sun Princess, touring Japan and Eastern Asia. After another couple of months as home, he followed this up with another Princess contract, dancing on board the Ruby Princess from the end of 2014 right through to June 2015. In August 2015, Josh joined the cast on board the Star Princess for a shorter contract through till January 2016. After completing that contract, he made the switch to Celebrity Cruises (part of the Royal Caribbean Fleet). To this day, Josh continues to perform on Cruise Ships around the world, where he has spent the majority of his successful dance career.
Vocational College Attendees
For those that want to pursue potential careers in dance, the next step after Mavlow is to go into Vocational Training at a specialist dance college. There are many of these up and down the country, and different colleges suit different people. Over the years, we have had quite a few pupils make the jump from Mavlow into full time vocational training.
Alex Wright - The Hammond, English National Ballet, Laine Theatre Arts
Emily Lindesay - The Hammond, Central School of Ballet
Sophie Sass - The Hammond
Joshua Topping - Dolphin Dance Studios
Anita Boreham - Merseyside Dance & Drama Centre
For those that want to pursue potential careers in dance, the next step after Mavlow is to go into Vocational Training at a specialist dance college. There are many of these up and down the country, and different colleges suit different people. Over the years, we have had quite a few pupils make the jump from Mavlow into full time vocational training.
Alex Wright - The Hammond, English National Ballet, Laine Theatre Arts
Emily Lindesay - The Hammond, Central School of Ballet
Sophie Sass - The Hammond
Joshua Topping - Dolphin Dance Studios
Anita Boreham - Merseyside Dance & Drama Centre