16-year-old Denmead performer awarded Tap Dancer of the Year and £1,500 bursary

A 16-YEAR-OLD Denmead tap dancer has been crowned the best of the year at the All England National Finals and awarded a £1,500 prize.
By Elsa Waterfield
Published 11th Aug 2022, 16:06 BST
Updated 11th Aug 2022, 16:07 BST
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16-year-old Lydia-Mae Locke, from Denmead, was crowned winner of the All England National Finals Tap Dancer of the Year award 2022 at the Wycombe Swan Theatre, in High Wycombe, on Sunday July 31.

The teen qualified from the Southern region to represent the south in the finals of the competition and was placed second in her category – seniors and over – of which she was one of the youngest and invited back the following day to take part in the Tap Dancer of the Year award.

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Lydia, who has been dancing with the Classique School of Dance for ten years, performed a tap solo and won, being awarded the title of Tap Dancer of the Year 2022, along with a £1,500 bursary to further her training in tap dance.

16-year-old Denmead tap dancer, Lydia-Mae Locke, has been crowned Tap Dancer of the Year at the All England National Finals and awarded a £1,500 prize.16-year-old Denmead tap dancer, Lydia-Mae Locke, has been crowned Tap Dancer of the Year at the All England National Finals and awarded a £1,500 prize.
16-year-old Denmead tap dancer, Lydia-Mae Locke, has been crowned Tap Dancer of the Year at the All England National Finals and awarded a £1,500 prize.
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All England Dance is a charity whose mission is to support growth and inclusion through dance, celebrating dancers aged from three to 21 years.

Lydia said: ‘When I was announced as the Tap Dancer of the Year winner, I was shocked and speechless.

I felt completely numb and it wasn’t until everyone started to congratulate me that I realised and it sunk in. I was just so happy.’

16-year-old Denmead tap dancer, Lydia-Mae Locke, has been crowned Tap Dancer of the Year at the All England National Finals and awarded a £1,500 prize16-year-old Denmead tap dancer, Lydia-Mae Locke, has been crowned Tap Dancer of the Year at the All England National Finals and awarded a £1,500 prize
16-year-old Denmead tap dancer, Lydia-Mae Locke, has been crowned Tap Dancer of the Year at the All England National Finals and awarded a £1,500 prize
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Head of the Tap Faculty at the Classique School Of Dance, Ellis Bryant, has been a teacher at the school for ten years, and has taught Lydia for the same amount of time.

Ellis, from Hilsea, said: ‘With Covid, it's been such a long time to even see them dance again, for Lydia to achieve that was amazing.

I’m just super proud, it's such an incredible achievement.’

The teacher from Hilsea was there to support her student at the final along with her family who cheered her on.

The Classique School of Dance, based in Waterlooville, offers a range of dance training including Ballet, Modern, Tap, Contemporary, Musical Theatre and more from the age of two, all the way up to adults.

The principal, Gemma Siamantas who first opened the doors to the Classique School of Dance in 2003 as the sole teacher, was ‘thrilled’ and ‘proud’ to have Lydia representing the school and the South.

Related topics:DenmeadDanceHigh Wycombe