In pictures: Hundreds of students perform in Newlands Gym and Dance Show

More than 500 students from Newlands Girls’ School took centre stage this week for one of the ‘biggest and most exciting events of the school calendar’.

The annual Gym and Dance Show returned for another year as students performed across Wednesday and Thursday at Braywick Leisure Centre.

The two-act celebration of dance, gymnastics and performance had sold out in under an hour.

Act one began with a ‘powerful and dramatic performance’ by the school’s junior and senior teams.

The house dances then brought plenty of energy and colour to the main stage.

This was followed by a ‘stunning’ A-level dance performance which ‘electrified the audience’, the school said.

The senior evolve team transported the audience into another world with a ‘breathtaking’ routine inspired by Narnia.

The first act also featured a high-impact hip-hop dance as well as a boxing performance by Year 11.

The act was brought to a close by the school’s dance company seniors who performed a ‘dramatic routine’ to Paint It Black.

Act two kicked off with a performance by the school’s inter cheer teams and The 5.

This was followed by the junior dance teams who took the audience on a journey through the decades.

The school’s Gym 6 performers ‘truly stunned with their strength and precision’, the school said.

A ‘knockout performance’ by Year 7 pupils to Starlight Express paved the way for an ‘emotional and unforgettable’ grand finale.

Michelle Morrison, head of sport at Newlands Girls’ School, said: “This show represents everything we stand for as a school - leadership, commitment, courage, compassion and creativity.

“Seeing over 500 students come together to support one another and all perform at such a high level is incredibly special.

“We couldn’t be prouder of them all.”