LIPA students win Dancers Inc. challenge
Friday 14 February 2025
Two LIPA Dance students have won a competition organised by the UK’s top commercial dance agency, Dancers Inc.
Third-years Amelia Coombs and Elena De Melim were named winners of the Dancers Inc. Dance Challenge after submitting videos of themselves performing a piece of choreography by Aaron Bryan.
The judging panel, which included the founder and artistic director of Dancers Inc. Christopher Manoe, praised Amelia and Elena for their “creativity and unique artistic expression”.
As winners they receive free membership of DancersIncWorld, a scheme designed to elevate careers and provide dancers with connections to leading industry professionals.
Amelia says they were “ecstatic” when they found out. “I’m so, so happy because it’s such a great opportunity for us. If you want to go into commercial dance, which is something we both want to do, Dancers Inc. is one of the best places to be.”
Image: Amelia and Elena performing at LIPA in Amargosa. Photography Andrew AB Photography
The scheme includes one-to-one mentorships, monthly classes and professional development workshops. Elena thinks it will be a big help. “There are classes we can go to in London and at these classes there will often be agents sitting in, so it gives us greater visibility. I think it could be an advantage when we go to auditions that these agents are already familiar with us.”
Amelia and Elena weren’t the only LIPA Dance students to be commended by the panel. Micol Giovannini and Ruby Wardlow also took the Dance Challenge and were praised for their “incredible talent, dedication, and creativity”. They received a complimentary month-long membership of DancersIncWorld.
Find out more about studying Dance at LIPA
Top image: Amelia Coombs by Laura Carys, Elena De Melim by Isabelle Ouattara.
