A Great Barr dance academy is celebrating its dancers’ achievements and highlighting its inclusive approach as a new national competition season gets underway.
Gem’s Dance Academy, based on Paper Mill End, says dancers who need additional support achieved top-five placings across several styles during the 2025 IDTA Nationwide season.
The academy says those styles included Freestyle, Street, Ballroom and Latin, and Classical Sequence.
Opportunities to take part and progress
Principal Gemma Welch said the achievements mattered beyond the trophies, with the school aiming to help every dancer learn, perform and progress.
“Of course we are incredibly proud of the results, but what matters most to us is that every dancer is given the opportunity to take part, progress and be taken seriously as a dancer,” she said.
She said inclusion should involve finding ways for students to learn and achieve alongside one another, rather than simply allowing them into a class.
The academy says staff adapt teaching where needed throughout its mainstream timetable.
Dance Without Limits
The school also runs Dance Without Limits, a dedicated class for children who need additional physical, learning, sensory or emotional support.
According to the academy, the class takes place on Tuesdays from 5.15pm to 6.15pm.
Gemma said the school was looking forward to the new competition season and wished every dancer taking part the best of luck.
The account of previous competition achievements and the class information were supplied by Gem’s Dance Academy.
