Former College Student Sarah Porter Inspires Dance Students with Workshop and Success Story

In an inspiring reunion, Sarah Porter, a former Sixth Form College student who excelled in BTEC Dance and A Levels in Geography, Maths, and Religious Studies, returned to share her remarkable journey and lead a captivating dance workshop for current students. Expecting to graduate with a First-Class Honours degree in Musical Theatre from Performers College, Sarah’s achievements and expertise left an unforgettable impact on our current dance students. 

Over her years in education, Sarah demonstrated exceptional talent and dedication, securing the coveted lead role of Ann in the final year show at Performers College, ‘Half a Sixpence,’ turning down a one-year dance contract with P&O Cruises to fulfil the role. Following her success, Sarah’s outstanding abilities caught the attention of The Narrow Road Company, a renowned theatrical agency, leading to her signing with them. 

With her invaluable experience, Sarah provided our aspiring dancers with priceless advice and guidance on the audition process, particularly as many of them are applying to Dance Conservatoires. Drawing from her own audition journey, Sarah’s insights offered a unique perspective, further fueling their ambitions to pursue dance at a professional level.  

Reflecting on her return to our college, Sarah expressed her excitement in reconnecting with the second-year students

 

I have really enjoyed returning to the Sixth Form to teach the lovely new second year students and to see Richard. I loved my time here studying on the BTEC Dance course which was a great foundation for my full-time professional degree course, and I am really pleased to be able to share my advice and guidance with the current students as they start the audition process.

Richard O’Brien, our Curriculum Manager for Performing Arts, praised Sarah’s exceptional qualities,

When I taught Sarah, she was an incredibly talented and resilient dancer who had a creative intelligence combined with a mature sense of self-motivation which made her an absolute pleasure to teach. It is wonderful to see how her dedication, focus and commitment to dance has led her to success and I am very grateful that she has returned to the Sixth Form to inspire our current dance students.

One of the students in attendance, Olivia-Grace Dixon, shared her appreciation for the opportunity to learn from Sarah’s experience,

I am planning on auditioning for Conservatoires which include Performers College which Sarah has just graduated from so it was immensely helpful to ask her questions about the audition process. I really loved the workshop Sarah taught and she has really inspired me in my ambition to one day become a performer in the West End.

Sarah’s incredible success story and her dedication to supporting the next generation of dancers have undoubtedly left a lasting impact on our students. Her return to our college served as a testament to the transformative power of education and the endless possibilities that lie ahead for those who pursue their passions with unwavering commitment.