Official Opening of Dance School of Scotland & Knightswood Halls of Residence

Published: 1 March 2016

Pupils past and present, in dance and musical theatre, of the Dance School of Scotland at Knightswood Secondary joined guests today (Tuesday 1 March) at the official opening of the £4.5 million halls of residence which secures the national status of this centre of excellence.

Bailie Liz Cameron, Executive Member for Children, Young People & Lifelong Learning, unveiled a plaque to signify the opening of the residence that is built in the grounds of the school and opened to pupils at the beginning of the new school year last August.

She said: "This is a great day for Glasgow and Scotland and adds a whole new dimension to the wonderful facilities at Knightswood Secondary School and national centre of excellence.

"The Dance School of Scotland is the country's only fully funded centre of excellence for dance and musical theatre that has won acclaim from top performers including Dame Judi Dench.

"Former students of these prestigious courses have successfully followed their dreams to study at illustrious colleges in London and America and many now tread the boards on stages across the world.

"Former musical theatre pupil Marcus Guy studied at New York's Julliard School for Performing Arts and follows in the dazzling footsteps of Robin Williams, Kevin Spacey, Kelsey Grammar and Kelly McGillis.

"Hayley Stobo, a dance school graduate, was the first girl from Scotland two years ago to be accepted to train at the world-famous Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow."

The new halls of residence, which welcomed pupils at the beginning of the new term in August, has been constructed in the grounds of Knightswood Secondary to provide week-day accommodation for pupils attending the Dance School at Knightswood and the Music School at Douglas Academy in Milngavie.

The new halls replace the former accommodation at Dalrymple Hall which was two miles from the school and owned by Glasgow University.

Up to 90 pupils will now enjoy the modern, state-of-the-art facilities on offer in the very heart of the Knightswood Secondary school community.