Two talented students from Shireland Collegiate Academy in Smethwick recently took part in a curtain raiser audition for internationally renowned dance company Motionhouse, ahead of their new production, Hidden.
Following a highly competitive process, year 11 student Michelle Yeboah has been selected to perform alongside the company when the show tours from October 2025 to February 2026. Fellow year 10 student Maisie Pressick also impressed at the audition, demonstrating the confidence, skill and resilience required to perform at a professional level. Their achievements highlight the creativity and dedication nurtured through the Academy’s arts provision.
Hidden is Motionhouse’s latest large-scale production, building on the success of the company’s 2021 show, Nobody. Combining contemporary dance with circus skills, the performance explores how light can emerge from darkness in times of crisis. With gravity-defying choreography, an emotive soundscape and digital projections, the show promises to immerse audiences in a powerful and thought-provoking experience.
This opportunity was made possible through the Academy’s partnership with the Birmingham Hippodrome Education Network, which gives students exclusive access to performances, workshops, and direct engagement with artists.
Thomas Daly, Principal at Shireland Collegiate Academy, said: “We are immensely proud of Maisie and Michelle for auditioning at such a high level. Opportunities like this demonstrate the transformative impact of partnerships with organisations such as the Birmingham Hippodrome, allowing our students not only to experience the arts as an audience, but to participate as performers.
“These experiences inspire ambition, resilience and creativity – qualities that will benefit them in any path they choose in the future.”
Both students were also part of the Academy’s Arts Aptitude programme, which provides enhanced opportunities for learners who demonstrate a talent and passion for the arts – including art, dance, drama and music. Open to 28 students each year, the programme offers expert teaching, enrichment activities and links to cultural institutions including the Birmingham Hippodrome. It is designed to help students develop real-world experience, grow in confidence, and express themselves creatively through a range of high-quality projects.
Michelle will now join Motionhouse’s ensemble for Hidden, sharing the stage with some of the UK’s most dynamic performers. Both students’ achievements serve as a personal triumph and a powerful example of the Academy’s commitment to supporting students’ aspirations.
Applications for the Arts Aptitude programme for students starting secondary school in September 2026 are open until Monday 29 September 2025. For more information about the programme and how to apply, visit the Academy website.
