A LONG-RUNNING dance school won rave reviews for its latest gala performance at a top West End theatre.

The Wanstead-based Redbridge Classical Dance Studios staged its ballet production of Bedknobs and Broomsticks at Her Majesty's Theatre in Haymarket on Sunday (July 11).

More than 200 of the school's students took part in the performance, which was based on the hit 1971 Disney film, and tells the story of three cockney orphans evacuated from London to live with an apprentice witch during the Blitz.

Maggie Simpson, who had two daughters in the cast of Sunday's show, said: “The show was fantastic, to be on a West End stage was an amazing experience for the ballet students.

“Before the show started, I saw some of them stand on stage completely awestruck, taking deep breaths, looking all around, and saying they just couldn't believe they were really appearing on a West End stage.

“And they got to share the same dressing rooms as the stars from Phantom of the Opera!

“The show was the best ever, and everyone in the audience that I spoke to said they wanted it to continue for much longer than the two hours.

“The imaginativeness of the choreography, music and costumes was just amazing, and a fantastic achievement for the ballet teachers, Miriam Rushworth and Rebecca Chalklin, who spent the last six months living and breathing the show.”

Redbridge Classical Dance Studios hold classes at Wanstead House Community Association and Hermon Hill Methodist Church each week, and has been running for the last 13 years.

For more information visit www.rcds-online.com.