Spotlight: Claire Young Dance Academy
With around 300 students and a central Bridge Street studio, Claire Young Dance Academy has been Morpeth's home for ballet, tap, jazz and much more since 2011.
Walk along Bridge Street in Morpeth and you might catch the sound of music drifting from the first floor above Costa Coffee. That is the home of Claire Young Dance Academy — a dance school that has grown to around 300 students since its founding in September 2011.
The academy relocated to 22-24 Bridge Street to secure a central Morpeth location, and the move has made classes more accessible for families across the town. The studios host a wide variety of disciplines: classical ballet, tap and jazz sit alongside more contemporary styles including acro dance, contortion, street, breakdance, lyrical, commercial and musical theatre. There is also a cheerleading programme for those who fancy something different.
Claire and her team of fully qualified, DBS-checked and first-aid-trained staff work with dancers from pre-primary age upwards. The breadth of styles means children can find their niche — or try several — without needing to attend multiple schools. Annual shows give students the chance to perform on stage, and the academy regularly enters competitions.
For parents wondering about logistics, the academy recommends parking at Morpeth Leisure Centre and walking through, or using the car park behind Aldi and cutting through to the main street. Classes run on multiple evenings and weekends, so there is usually a slot that fits around school and family life.
Whether your child dreams of pirouettes or backflips, Claire Young Dance Academy offers a welcoming, professional environment right in the centre of town.