HSDC is proud to celebrate an outstanding achievement by its Dance students, who secured the People’s Choice Award and an impressive overall second place finish at the recent Dance Live Portsmouth Final.
Students from the College’s A Level Dance courses at Havant and Vocational Dance courses at South Downs came together to deliver a powerful and emotionally charged performance that resonated strongly with both the audience and judging panel. The People’s Choice Award, voted for by the audience on the night, recognised the exceptional impact of the piece, whilst the overall second place result highlighted the quality, professionalism and creativity of the students’ work.
The dance was called Red Ribbon, and explored the impact of the HIV/AIDS crisis on the gay community in 1980s Britain. Red Ribbon addressed themes of fear, stigma, resilience and solidarity, all of which resonated strongly with the judges, who praised HSDC’s students for their honesty, sensitivity and powerful storytelling.
Reflecting on the experience, dance student Harry Wallace said:
“It was a truly eye-opening process to create a piece which delves into a subject that still needs to be discussed.”
This project has been particularly meaningful for both students and staff, who have received ongoing support and feedback from the National AIDS Trust. As a result, the students’ work will now contribute to the Trust’s educational resources, which are shared with schools nationwide.
The project has already sparked important conversations within schools, demonstrating how the performing arts can help young people engage with stories and experiences beyond their own.
Dance teachers Sarah Parsons and Zoe Majczak were full of praise for their incredible students, saying:
“It’s been a real privilege to help bring this story to life and to give a voice to those whose experiences must not be forgotten.”
