Dancers put through their paces ahead of showcase

Dancers from Highfields are making final preparations for a showcase at The Grand Theatre after being put through their paces by professional dancer and choreographer, Nathan Marsh.

Having started dancing for fun at the age of 15, Nathan has since built an enviable career in the world of dance and has been working with Highfields students as part of a school outreach project.

His work with the school has given students access to professional training from the best in the business and an insight into his exciting career as an in-demand choreographer and performer who travels around the UK and Europe showcasing his dance talent.

Nathan and fellow members of his dance crew Antics were thrust into the spotlight when they appeared on Sky One’s Got To Dance, reaching the finals twice and only narrowly missing out on the £250,000 top prize. As well as his commitments with Antics, Nathan travels far and wide teaching dance, choreographing routines and performing as a member of The Richboyz Project - a global dance collective run by internationally-acclaimed dancer and choreographer Rob Rich.

He has been involved in a number of high-profile performances, including Move It - the UK’s biggest dance celebration held in London - and The Uragano convention in Italy. He also teaches classes every Wednesday in Birmingham and has his own clothing brand - Marshon.

Nathan has been working with Highfields students since November and has choreographed a high-energy five-minute routine for them to perform at The Grand Theatre on January 27.

The 24-year-old, from Birmingham, said: “It has been really enjoyable working with the students on this project and good to see how they have improved over the weeks.

“Many of them do not have formal dance training and were not used to the disciplines involved but they have really come on throughout the process. I have really pushed them and am really looking forward to the show.”

The project has been organised by internationally-acclaimed dance company ZooNation, with the support of an Arts Connect grant. Highfields is one of 12 schools involved in the project, which will culminate with a dance showcase called Nursery Rhymez: Remixed at the historic theatre.

Ms S Bishop, Head of Performance at Highfields, said: “It has been fantastic to have a dancer and choreographer of Nathan’s calibre coming into school to work with our students.

“It is going to be very special for them to perform his routine at The Grand Theatre.”