The Royal Academy of Dance Midlands Ballet Awards took place on Sunday 23 June in Birmingham. Francesca 
Hardwick who is a Year 8 pupil at Abbots Bromley School and a student at the Alkins School of Dance, was the overall winner of the Senior Class.
Competing with girls and boys up to the age of 18 Francesca delighted the spectators and judge Mr Iain Mackay, Principal Dancer of Birmingham Royal Ballet. ‘Francesca was a clear winner and had everything’ said Mr Mackay.
Francesca’s prize is two tickets to the final of the prestigious International Genée Competition in Glasgow on Sunday 29th September and overnight stay on the Sunday night. Mr Mackay, hails from Glasgow and was himself a former Genée winner.
Francesca is a pupil at Abbots Bromley School where she balances her time between her academic studies and her dance training.
The Dance and Musical Theatre Courses at Abbots Bromley contain a carefully balanced curriculum, combining high quality Vocational Classes with The Alkins School of Dance, and the excellent academic opportunities offered at Abbots Bromley School.
The courses offer a real alternative in vocational training, where each student is valued as an individual and great care is taken to ensure that they gain the vocational skills and academic qualifications needed to succeed.
‘Francesca is an excellent and dedicated dance student. She fully deserves this success, which I am sure will be the first of many.
I hope one day to be watching her in the Genée Competition’ said Mr Russell Alkins Director of Dance and former dancer and examiner of the Royal Academy of Dance.
Abbots Bromley School is one of the country’s leading independent Christian schools and is set in the picturesque Staffordshire village of Abbots Bromley.
In addition to its excellent academic record, the school also has a fine reputation for art, dance, drama, equestrian, music and sport.