Talented young Liverpool Theatre School dancers, Gavin Dunne (17) and Leah Ruscoe (17), are celebrating after a spectacular performance on Britain’s Got Talent over the weekend (14 May), which was given a standing ovation by all four judges, earning them a place in the next stage of the ITV show.

The exceptional dancers delivered an impressive performance as part of the Dane Bates Collective, which brought Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, David Walliams and Simon Cowell to their feet, while applause filled the London Palladium. 

The emotional performance, inspired by a letter written by the great grandfather of choreographer and Liverpool Theatre School Dance Tutor, Dane Bates, told the moving story of how he was captured during the war, leaving behind his true love, Dane’s great grandmother.

During the contemporary routine, set to a re-imagined version of the U2 track, ‘With or Without You’, the dancers brought the letter to life. Simon Cowell hailed the performance “the best dance audition we’ve seen so far this year,” while David Walliams described the dancers as “faultless.”

Gavin and Leah enjoyed a huge round of applause from fellow students and teachers at Liverpool Theatre School as they arrived at training this morning following their TV appearance over the weekend.

Leah, who is a student on the Trinity Dance Diploma course at Liverpool Theatre School, said:

“The whole experience was just amazing and it’s such an awesome feeling to get four ‘yeses’ from the judges.

“Dane is one of the dance tutors at Liverpool Theatre School and he invited me to join The Dane Bates Collective, which is made up of dancers from across the country. I love performing as part of the group and I feel so lucky to have made it through to the next stage of Britain’s Got Talent.”

Fellow Liverpool Theatre School student and Dane Bates Collective dancer, Gavin, who is currently training for a Level 3 BTEC in Dance, added: “We had the best time auditioning on Britain’s Got Talent and to get such a brilliant reaction from the judges and the audience, as well as viewers at home is just phenomenal. I can’t thank Dane enough for bringing us dancers together and for choreographing such a stunning routine. It’s so exciting to get through to the next stage!”

Choreographer and Dance Tutor at Liverpool Theatre School, Dane Bates, said:

“The performance was based on a piece of my family history and the incredible response to something that is so personal to me was such an emotional experience. I’m so proud of the dancers, they absolutely smashed it, they’re amazing!”

The Dane Bates Collective, who regularly rehearse at Liverpool Theatre School, is made up of talented dancers, between the ages of 12 – 27, from around the UK.

Liverpool Theatre School, whose patrons include dance legend Wayne Sleep OBE, boasts a long list of alumni including professional dancers and choreographers, as well as stars of hit shows such as Frozen The Musical, SIX, Wicked, The Book of Mormon and Blood Brothers.

The Ofsted ‘outstanding’ centre of excellence, which provides elite performing arts training designed to prepare young performers for the industry, is currently holding auditions for courses starting in September, with a number of fully-funded places and bursaries available.

Find out more about Liverpool Theatre School here.

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