Dance Live 2026 1st place heat winners!
On Monday, over 60 of our Year 7–10 students (including crew members) travelled to Portsmouth Guild Hall to compete in the first heat of Dance Live! 2026 — a KS2–4 (plus further education) dance competition featuring seven schools from across the UK.
Our journey to the stage began last year with open auditions, welcoming Crookhorn students of all abilities to take part. Since then, students have attended after-school rehearsals and worked on producing LED screen content and behind-the-scenes videos, all led by our Dance Coordinator, Mrs Street.
Students arrived at the Guild Hall at 1pm, enthusiastic and ready to showcase their talents. Following two onstage rehearsals and a warm-up, they headed to the green room for hair, makeup, and costuming before performing to a sold-out audience of parents, friends, and staff at 7pm.
This year’s performance, 'Step into the Light, or into the Unknown', was inspired by the hit science-fiction series Stranger Things. Set in the 1980s, the story follows a group of young friends who uncover supernatural events after the mysterious disappearance of one of their own. Themes of friendship, adventure, and suspense were brought to life through expressive storytelling, intricate choreography, and striking visual effects.
Crookhorn’s performance was phenomenal, with judges praising the immersive narrative, dynamic movement, and seamless integration of LED screen elements that captured iconic moments from the series. The routine featured impressive acrobatics, synchronised choreography, and powerful visuals that transported the audience straight to the Upside Down.
Crookhorn was thrilled to be crowned the 1st place winning school, a remarkable achievement reflecting the dedication and passion of everyone involved. Students and staff left the event with an overwhelming sense of pride and joy after months of hard work and commitment since September. Mrs Street is incredibly proud of the dancers and is already looking ahead with excitement as preparations begin for the Dance Live! 2026 finals in April.
All our students agreed — Dance Live! 2026 was an unforgettable and triumphant experience, and they cannot wait to return to the stage to represent Crookhorn once again later this year.
Well done to all students who took part.
“Last night we won Dance Live 2026 for the first time in 5 years! Something I've been working towards this whole time whilst at Crookhorn College. We started our rehearsals in September with over 100 students and ended up with 56 performers on stage. The dedication and talent of the students involved this year has been incredible. It has certainly helped make the whole process enjoyable and easier to make my ideas come to life. I'm so proud of all of my wonderful students and staff who helped get us there. This is the best achievement of my career as a Dance Teacher and I think I can say on behalf of myself and the students involved that feeling happy is an understatement.”
