Dance

I first came to Lewisham College twenty odd years ago because it was offering the only Dance Foundation Course available at the time, nothing else like it existed yet.

I had dropped out of my A Levels and I was really floundering at that point; my mum was in hospital and it was a difficult time in my life generally. Change needed to happen and coming to Lewisham College was an integral part of that change.

I came into dance through street dance, and by studying at Lewisham College I was consistently questioning the link between my culture and my education. It influenced my strong desire in trying to present hip hop culture in a professional context.

I now own my own company, Jonzi D Productions which does exactly that. I also curate the annual Breakin' Convention, make music and direct films.

My message for today's students is to work hard. It's not only possible for them to do as well as me - I expect them to do better than I have.

So work hard and believe in your goals. I didn't think I was going to be doing this, but I'm so glad I kept my focus. Street dance can now be a career choice.

*Photo credit: Chris Davies, Dancing Times.

I've always danced, but at school, I did A Levels like Chemistry and Maths and had a place at university to study Physiotherapy.

During my gap year, I met some people who had made a career out of dancing and that's when I realised I wanted to dance.  I'd read the Alchemist, and that really inspired me to come and pursue dancing. I don't want to be regretting anything later on in life: and now's the time to dance, when I'm young.

Doing dance here is better than I imagined it would be. When I first started coming here, I kept having to pinch myself; I couldn't believe I was coming to College to dance.

Lewisham College has really prepared me for the next step. I've just heard I've got a place at London School of Contemporary Dance. It's got a huge international reputation. They've already auditioned something like 14,000 people this year, from across the world and only 40 people get a place. Last year four dancers from Lewisham College got places.

Lewisham College has a good relationship with a lot of the top dance schools like the London School of Contemporary Dance and Laban. They're like the Oxford and Cambridge of the dance world.

The course is really diverse, you do a lot of different styles and they all benefit you in a different way. The studios are great, they're really beautiful. I'll be so sad to leave this year - it's home.

If anyone's looking to do Dance at Lewisham College then I'd say come here and try it. It's a great foundation. If it doesn't work out then at least you've tried your best. Just go for it.

Name: Abby Lemar
Has just got into: Laban

My time at Lewisham College has been the best two years of training I've had. It gives you a taste of what higher education's going to be like. By coming to Lewisham College first you gain a better understanding of dance and proper technique - they really push you.

I'd recommend the Dance courses at Lewisham College to anyone. I always say to people who want extra training that Lewisham College is the place to be. You get good training and good experience here.

I'm now really ready for the challenge of going to Laban!

Name: Joseph Toonga
Has just got into: Northern School of Contemporary Dance

When I first came to Lewisham College I was like 'I don't want to wear that uni-tard, boys don't wear that', but after a while I got over that and you just forget about it.

I found the training much more demanding than I was expecting, especially in the first year. Since then, I've been loving the course. Choreography's my favourite class - it lets me express a mixture of different styles. People think dance is easy, but it's so demanding on the body.

Lewisham College really prepares you for the next level: I'm now going on to Northern School of Contemporary Dance.

Name: Dickson Mbi
Has just go into: The Place

About five years ago, I won a street dancing competition and got a scholarship for Dance lessons at Pineapple studios. I didn't go: I didn't think dancing was macho enough. Instead I started do a style of dancing called Popping. I was UK champion in 2008 and 2009.

After a while I decided I wanted to do something different, and I became interested in ballet and contemporary dance. I want to be the best choreographer in the world, and I realised that do that, you need to have some form of training at an institution.

Coming to Lewisham College I met teachers who could challenge me and push me in another direction, and I really enjoyed the course.

I used to think that popping was all I could do, but dance is a way of life for me now.  I've just got into The Place, and I'm looking forward to the challenge of going there. I want to inspire other young people.

I was about eight when I got into dance. I did ballet, tap and jazz. I loved it, and carried on doing it, so I must have been quite good.

I've now been working professionally for 15 years. I've toured nationally and internationally; I've been all over Europe and as far away as Indonesia and Mozambique giving workshops and performing.

I get a lot of work offered to me at the moment - it's nice to know that you've got that reputation.

I also teach, predominately jazz techniques based on the Matt Mattox style. There's nothing that can replace having hands on experience in the industry you teach. Because I'm still out working, all the knowledge I'm passing on to the students is based on my real experiences. I feel like I can be inspiring when I teach because I know what's going on out there and I'm excited by youth culture.

Lewisham College has a reputation for producing dancers who have a certain style of movement and focus that maybe you don't get anywhere else. We're successful in training and inspiring dancers with some kind of longevity. We really do teach all of the foundation techniques you need as a dancer.

I think we've got one of the best dance courses available. A lot of people I work with now trained at Lewisham College. I wish I'd known about Lewisham College before I went to dance college.

We have recently created a blog, Generation Dance, following our students from Lewisham Dance classes to the bright lights of the Southbank.

Follow them as we chart their journey throughout their course.