A WORSBROUGH Bridge dance school which has supported youngsters throughout lockdown with an array of online sessions has been nominated for a Proud of Barnsley award.

Starstruck School of Theatre Dance, run by 30-year-old Amy Schofield, was forced to close following government advice, but the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown didn’t keep her from interacting with her pupils.

The Worsbrough Dale resident said: “We’ve basically done free online zoom classes throughout lockdown so that our pupils could participate.

“The classes were for all genres of dance – ballet, street and tap – and if they wanted to have one-to-one sessions we were doing that as well.

“We were throwing parties for those who had a birthday during lockdown because they weren’t able to see their friends and it was a nice way to raise spirits.”

It wasn’t just the kids that Amy was keeping active throughout lockdown, as she even held Zoom quizzes for the parents – she’s now back up and running in the studio but hopes when restrictions are eased that things can get back to ‘normal’.

“Keeping them entertained was the most important thing for us – we were having catch-ups and we were doing quizzes with both the children and the adults, all with different themes,” she added.

“We’re back now but it isn’t busy as it usually is, it’s all based on the size of the room so we have around six to eight people in some classes when usually we’d have around 15 to 20.

“Everyone has been great with it though and the children are getting used the ‘new normal’ – I just hope we can get back to what we used to do.”

Upon hearing of their nomination in the School of the Year category, Amy said: “I’m just so shocked, I thought that I was just doing what everyone else was doing during lockdown.

“They’re more than just pupils to me, some of them have been with me since they were two – they’re like family.

“It’s more than just keeping fit as well, interacting with them during lockdown helped with their mental wellbeing.”