Cornish dance student lands spot at world renowned conservatoire

A 17-year-old dance student from Cornwall College St Austell has been accepted into an internationally–recognised school for the arts. 

Izzy Gillespie, from Looe, has taken a place at the London-based Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. 

The school is renowned for its high-quality music and dance training and has been ranked ninth in the world’s top 10 music schools. 

Izzy, who is course captain for Cornwall College’s ‘Altitude’ dance programme, said: “I’m super happy and grateful to have been accepted to study contemporary dance at Trinity Laban.  

“Working alongside the most driven and passionate dancers and teachers at Altitude has pushed me to where I am now and has aided me into the next chapter of my dance training to further develop my skills in the industry.”  

She added: “This exciting next step will prepare me for my ambition of joining a touring dance company and to hopefully, one day, run my own dance school.” 

Izzy will be following in the footsteps of curriculum area manager for the creative and digital academy at The Cornwall College Group (TCCG), Jess Leonard, who herself trained at Trinity Laban after a Cornwall College dance course.  

Jess said: “I am over the moon with the news that Izzy has been offered a place at Trinity Laban. Not only is it one of the leading Contemporary Dance Conservatoires in the world but it holds a special place in my heart, after my own training there. 

“I know how much of a challenge this next part of the journey is going to be but fortunately the training that Izzy has received as part of our Altitude dance course will have prepared her in full. 

“We get feedback from so many about the calibre of dancer we produce – and Izzy is a fine example of the success you can experience if you commit 100 per cent to your training.” 

Study programme manager for dance and performing arts at Cornwall College St Austell, Shelby Dover, who has been teaching Izzy, added: “I am extremely proud of Izzy for getting accepted into Trinity Laban. 

“Izzy is my current course captain for the Altitude dance company, and I was always confident she would be accepted into a dance college through her passion for dance and her motivation and determination to pursue a career within the industry. 

“She has come a long way since starting the course. She is a versatile dancer but has great talent within the styles of both ballet and contemporary dance. Izzy is a mature and outstanding learner! Her hard work is certainly paying off.” 

Izzy will be studying on a three-year BA Honours programme after receiving her confirmation last week. She has also been accepted onto the degree courses at Falmouth, Chichester, and Kingston Universities – and still has auditions taking place for other dance colleges.  

The dance programmes at Cornwall College St Austell have a reputation of success, with students progressing on to some of the most prestigious dance schools and conservatoires in the country.  

Students who study and train at the campus benefit from outstanding facilities including The Keay Theatre and professional, heated, and sprung dance studios. 

The courses have a 100 per cent pass rate, 100 per cent achievement rate and 100 per cent progression into either higher education courses, conservatoires, dance schools or straight into employment in the industry. 

School leavers who would like to find out more about the exceptional dance courses available at Cornwall College St Austell can sign up to a Twilight Taster Evening on March 23 to learn more about what is on offer, meet the teachers and more. Further details and a sign-up form can be found by visiting https://www.cornwall.ac.uk/events/twilight-taster-evening-at-cornwall-college-st-austell/