Year 8 student Annaka from Shireland Collegiate Academy took a bold step into the world of community leadership by launching her own K-pop dance class, bringing energy, creativity and inclusivity to Halesowen.
The classes were held at the newly opened Halesowen Wellbeing Hub in Somers Square, which opened its doors in November 2025. The hub is a collaborative project between three local community organisations: La Luz Life Coach and Wellbeing Services, Active Bodies 4 Focused Minds, and Creative Active Lives.
Annaka, who has been dancing since the age of three, choreographed all of the routines herself, designing the sessions to be welcoming and inclusive. The classes were open to participants of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, with a focus on enjoyment, confidence building and self-expression. Sessions ran every Saturday and attracted interest from the local community.
Speaking about the project, Annaka said: “I wanted to start a project that everyone could join and enjoy. So, I took the two things I love most, dance and K-pop, and turned it into a club that ran for six weeks. In the future, I hope to teach different styles and reach out to more people.”
Inspired by a desire to make dance more accessible, Annaka hopes to expand sessions in the future, encouraging even more people to get involved and express themselves through movement.
Thomas Daly, Principal at Shireland Collegiate Academy, said: “It’s inspiring to see someone so young take the initiative to lead and innovate such a great project. Annaka wasn’t just teaching dance, she was creating opportunities for confidence, creativity and connection in the community.
“Her determination and vision show that age is no barrier to making a real difference, and we look forward to seeing her classes grow and hearing more about the incredible impact she continues to make through projects like this.”
The K-pop class was one of the first activities to take place at the Wellbeing Hub, which continues to develop as a centre for creative, physical and mental wellbeing programmes in Halesowen.
