After having their spectacular gala performance cancelled earlier this year, hundreds of young dance students from a western-based dance school are preparing to take to the stage next weekend.

Gena’s Dance Academy are preparing to take ’GDA On Broadway’ to the Gaiety Theatre stage for three nights next weekend, from Thursday to Saturday, October 29 to 31.

More than 250 young performers will showcase their skills and perform a variety of dance styles and routines throughout the show, based around some of the classic Broadway musical productions.

Also appearing with the dancers are guest singers David Artus, Alexandra Slater and Alex Maxwell.

The dancers are all aged up to 18 years old, with some of the youngest performers being only two and half.

The Gena’s Dance Academy grand show is held biannually and was originally intended to be held in May, earlier this year.

However, the play was cancelled in the wake of the coronavirus restrictions, leaving the hundreds of young dancers disappointed.

Gena Walker, the owner of Gena’s Dance Academy and the organiser of the show, said that they feel relieved and lucky to be able to host their show after all.

’We were affected by lockdown and feel extremely lucky to have been given a second chance,’ said Gena. ’Our show was originally booked for May but obviously got cancelled when lockdown came into place.

’I immediately contacted the Gaiety and they managed to give us the October half terms slot and we just all crossed fingers that it would actually happen.

’It’s been a big challenge with kids fitting into costumes and sourcing materials from the UK that were required for the staging.

’But we have made it work by having an amazing team of teachers, dancers, mums and backstage leaders pulling together and making it happen.

’I’ve also had a baby in June so that’s been challenging as well as I had to return to work to get the show on the road so to speak!’

Tickets for ’GDA On Broadway’ are priced from £18.50 for adults and £17.50 for seniors, with £15.50 for under 16s, available from the Welcome Centre and the Villa gaiety box office, on 600555 and online from villagaiety.com