At the age of 19, Laura Cantliff is dancing her way towards her dream after Clearing enabled her to get on to her first choice of course at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).
Despite facing challenges during her A-levels, Laura was determined to find a way to succeed and gain a degree in dance.
Following her exam results she sought advice from DMU’s Clearing team and within an hour she had made her choice and managed to secure a place to study Dance BA (Hons).
She said: “I was extremely surprised by how everything happened within a blink of an eye.
“Having the chance to be able to complete my dream at DMU is the best decision I made.”
As someone who has been practising dance since she was 11, one of the main things that attracted Laura to DMus’s course was the practical work.
“The lecturers showed us different styles which we then used to inspire our own unique style”, she said.
Laura was also excited about the other opportunities the course offers, such as learning to choreograph and perform, developing leadership skills, managing events and understanding how the dance industry operates.
In just one year at DMU, she has experienced so much, including travelling to Utrecht in the Netherlands for the Spring Dance Festival as part of #DMUglobal.
She said: “I got tickets to see some of the most exciting places in the festival!
“I also got the chance to meet students from Utrecht University, to work on our own performances inspired by the work we saw, and also took part in workshops with some of the choreographers featured in the festival.”
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Laura has also participated in several dance performances as part of the improvisation group called ImCo.
She has attended conferences and meetings about inclusion in dance and has worked with a third year Music, Technology and Performance student to develop an interdisciplinary piece.
Laura said: “DMU has provided so many opportunities for me to take advantage of.”
Through industry workshops she has met professionals and companies such as 2FACED, Urban Bush Women, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar and Lali Ayguade.
She has also volunteered with UK dance artist Lucy Suggate on her touring Swarm Sculptures project.
Looking forward to starting her second year at DMU, Laura said: “I am very lucky to be able to study something I am so passionate about at a degree level, because now I get to do what I love every day.
“I’m really excited about my future. I already believe the course has taught me the specific skills to become a choreographer."
Posted on Monday 1 August 2016