Two young dancers to study in UK

Two students at the College of Jazz Dance, in San Gwann, will further their training in the UK after obtaining a scholarship earlier this year.

Maxine Zerafa, 18, of Ta' Xbiex, and Andrea Galea, 16, of St Julians, were awarded the scholarship during the annual college performance.

Ms Zerafa won the College of Jazz Award, enabling her to travel to the UK and audition for a place at the London Studio Centre. She has now secured a scholarship for a three-year diploma course, starting this month.

Ms Galea has obtained a year's scholarship at the Kate Simmons School, in the UK. Ms Galea has been dancing classical ballet and jazz dance at the College of Jazz from an early age while Ms Zerafa has been training in classical ballet since she was three.

It is not only the dancers who are delighted with the scholarships. Their tutors, Justin Roy Barker and Felix Busuttil, artistic directors of the college, and Alison Bird, head of the Ballet Faculty, were as elated as the students.

"The news came as no surprise because both dancers had shown great potential from the start. Maxine and Andrea have performed without fail in the college's annual production as well as in various YADA Dance Company performances," Mr Barker said.

The College of Jazz Dance is accepting new registrations for the forthcoming year which starts on October 2.

Further information can be obtained by calling 7942 1864 or 9944 5703.