A PRESTIGIOUS national award has been won by Porlock-based performance arts group Stacked Wonky.

The group’s artistic director Sarah Shorten was named One Dance UK’s ‘Young People’s Dance Champion’, marking an incredible 12 months for the organisation and its young dancers.

During the past 10 years Stacked Wonky has built a reputation for its desire to make work in compelling West Somerset locations for audiences unfamiliar with site-specific performance.

Sarah travelled to Birmingham Hippodrome to attend the awards ceremony, which brought together individuals and organisations working in dance across the UK to celebrate outstanding contributions to the sector.

One Dance UK’s panel of 25 judges were inundated with nominations but whittled them down to shortlists of just three nominees for each category.

Sarah was selected alongside the head of dance for National Youth Arts Wales and a senior dance lecturer from Leeds Beckett University.

She was ‘genuinely surprised’ when the ceremony’s host announced her as the winner.

Sarah said: “I struggled for a moment to understand what was happening, but two of my young dancers, Stuart and Ernie, were bouncing up and down in delight pointing at the podium.

“It felt fantastic to report back on the brilliant initiatives happening in our tiny village, Porlock, powered by exceptional young artists.

“We have had a terrific couple of years working hard to persuade national organisations and programmers to understand young dancers can create original high-quality work, on a par with professional adult companies.

“I think we have done that.”

The judges said they were particularly impressed by Stacked Wonky’s breakthrough works ‘4 Minutes’ and ‘Are You Here For The Meeting?’, which were programmed at Dancing City at the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival and toured the UK to national acclaim.

One Dance UK is a national support organisation and works to ensure ‘a brighter future for everybody in dance’.

Members span the UK and the sector, with the group promoting dance as a viable career pathway, providing up-to-date advice and guidance, and working to advance the diversity of dance across the UK.

It provides a single, powerful voice for dance, helping to lead strategic initiatives to benefit the entire dance sector, including professional dancers, students, educators, choreographers, companies, researchers, scientists, producers, and more.

Sarah said: “I truly believe we have shifted norms within the dance sector.

“Young audiences can now see themselves represented at professional platforms and we have proven small, rural communities, with limited access to culture, can create exceptional work that feels fresh and dynamic.

“While my name is on the trophy, I share the credit with all those who have helped Stacked Wonky to rise.

“Most importantly, I want to celebrate the courage and brilliance of the young dancers who have put their bodies on the line for Stacked Wonky.”

One Dance UK chief executive Andrew Hurst said: “All of the nominees are inspiring examples of the dedication and innovation that drives dance in the UK, and we are delighted to be able to celebrate their important work.”