JOZE School of Performing Arts presents its tenth anniversary show at the King’s Hall, Ilkley, this month.

It takes place on Saturday, April 25, with performances at 2pm and 6.30pm. Tickets, priced at £10 (£5 for children) will be available on the door 30 minutes before each performance starts.

From its humble beginnings in 2005, with three classes a week in church halls, JSofPA has come a long, long way, and now holds more than 30 classes a week in its own studios in The Grove Promenade, Ilkley.

Early classes were held in Ilkley’s Quaker Hall and Silsden Town Hall until moving into the present venue in the middle of Ilkley. During a total refurbishment of the studios in 2009, sadly there was a terrible fire, resulting in a closure of the school for five months whilst repair work was carried out. Since the grand re-opening by Leanne Jones, from the original West End cast of Hairspray, the school has gone from strength to strength.

Sue Walters, of Joze School of Performing Arts, said: “We hold three exam sessions a year with I.D.T.A. These have always received a 100 per cent pass rate, with many students achieving top honours in classical ballet, jazz and theatre-dance..

“Charity events also take place and we regularly perform with singing and dance groups at the Ben Rhydding Community Fete, Riddlesden Gala, and various fundraising events at Craiglands and at the Clarke Foley Centre.

“The Performing Arts School has strong links with Ilkley Amateur Operatic Society: all three teachers, Jo, Danielle and Mark actively participate in their productions. Their production last October of Bugsy Malone, was directed and choreographed by our own singing and drama teacher Mark Allan, and 40 of the 60-strong cast were students of ours.

“Groups of dancers have performed twice at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London’s West End, and have also won awards at Dance-On, a county-wide competition held annually at the Barbican in York. Several students have gained success with Northern Ballet, and one student has recently been awarded a training place at London’s Urdang Performing Arts College.

“In addition to excellence in dance, drama and singing, we aim to provide a supportive atmosphere in which all students can thrive and enjoy the performing arts.”