A song and dance extravaganza is taking place later this month.
Well known stage school teacher Wendy Cameron is starting up the Ore Stage Festival at the end of May - with 25 trophies up for grabs in a range of categories.
Taking place at Hillcrest School between Wednesday May 28 and Saturday May 31, the orga
niser hopes it will develop into an alternative, if not a rival, for the well established Hastings Musical Festival.
As a youngster Miss Cameron was a talented performer and swept the board in almost every category she entered at Hastings Musical Festival.
However, she is now concerned that some parents may not be able to afford the entry fees for the prestigious competition, which is why she is starting her own version.
She said: "We have kept the cost down so hopefully we can encourage the children and parents who maybe cannot afford to enter the Musical Festival."
More than 400 children, aged between six and 16, have already entered in classes ranging from ballet, tap and modern dance to duets, modern lyrical and groups and troops.
There will be medallions for the top four children in each category and Miss Cameron is hoping to unearth some hidden gems.
She said: "Often with these competitions you know who is going to win very early on. That won't happen here. Also, by giving medals for fourth place hopefully a few more people will get some recognition."
Entries have not only come from Hastings and St Leonards, but from nearby Eastbourne and Tunbridge Wells. As well as the trophies there are also three bursaries of £50 which the adjudicator will award to the children they think most deserving.
The daily sessions run from 10am until 1pm and then 2pm until 5pm and entry is either £5 per day (£4 concessions) or £3 per session (£2 concessions).
Miss Cameron can't wait for the festival to get underway and is hopeful it will develop further in future years.
She said: "I have started it but it would be nice to see it continue for years to come. The festival is trying to bring back a sense of community atmosphere."
For more information, or to register a late entry, ring 01424 428771 or 01424 814268.
Does the town need another stage festival? Is the Hastings Musical Festival too elitist and expensive for local parents? Leave your comments below.The full article contains 405 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
