Edinburgh dance school triumphs at Global Dance Open qualifier

EDA celebrates as dancer Megan and 67 acts triumph at Scottish qualifiers event

Pupils from Edinburgh Dance Academy (EDA) have secured several places at the Global Dance Open (GDO), an international dance competition being held later this year. The EDA winners included Megan Hannah, who recorded the highest score at the GDO Scottish finals competition staged last weekend.

A total of 68 EDA performances triumphed at the event held at Broughty Ferry’s Gardyne Theatre which featured 434 acts from across Scotland. Among the host of successful EDA entrants, Megan’s individual dance score of 97 out of a maximum 100 points was highest ranked solo performance of the competition.

Judges at the Scotland event included Lucy Banfield, a former professional dance who is now Head of Jazz at Laine Theatre Arts dance college. Fellow judges were professional dancer Matthew Banks and Hayley Monaghan, a choreographer and professional performer.

The qualifying EDA performers will now represent Team Scotland in their respective categories at the GDO international finals event being staged in Birmingham between 16 – 20 July.

Securing places at the GDO finals follows EDA success at last year’s British Isles Dance Inspirations event in Blackpool where its pupils won a number of titles and the school was named as the ‘Highest Ranked Dance Studio in the UK and Ireland’ for the third year running. EDA dancers also secured a total of 15 medals, including four golds, at the 2023 Dance World Cup finals held in Portugal.

Julie Mitchell, Principal and Founder at EDA, said: “We are so pleased with the success of our all our pupils, including Megan (above) for her outstanding solo performance, and delighted they will now have the opportunity to compete in the prestigious Global Dance Open finals this summer in Birmingham.

“This is another fantastic achievement for EDA building on our successes at both UK and global competitions over recent years.

“Our dancers and teachers have worked tirelessly to create and perfect their routines and we are all delighted they have secured this great opportunity to showcase their talents at this international event.”