West End Masterclass at MCA

On Tuesday 12^th March, students had an amazing opportunity to be involved in a 2 hour West End workshop. Joseph Poulton is a professional dancer, teacher and choreographer from York. He trained locally at the Academy of Northern Ballet Leeds before moving to London and training at Rambert School of Contemporary Dance and Central School of Ballet. After graduating he joined the critically acclaimed Ballet Black. He branched out into musical theatre and was chosen to play the leading role of Mr Mistoffelees in CATS at London Palladium co-starring with former X-Factor Judge Nicole Scherzinger. Selected students who have been showing excellent technical and creative ability were invited to have an hour masterclass with Joe where they leant choreography from the ‘Jellicle Ball’ from CATS. 

Joe has worked almost continuously in West End productions such as the Lion King, Carousel, Man of La Mancha, My Fair Lady and toured in the UK and Europe with many shows such as Hairspray and Kiss Me Kate. Thirty-six Year 9 and Year 10 BTEC students participated in a Hairspray workshop performing ‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’.

As Joseph is currently on tour performing on Disney’s Aladdin UK and Ireland Tour, he delivered the number ‘Arabian Nights’ from Aladdin to forty-seven Year 7/8 students and then did a Q&A where students asked him lots of questions about his training and career. 

All three masterclasses were so technically demanding where Joseph taught them direct repertoire from the West End productions and the students did amazingly well. We aim to use the content students learnt for our upcoming show ‘Movies and Musicals Night’ in July. 

Joseph said ‘Thank you so much for inviting me to teach at your amazing school for your incredible students, I really had such a great experience. I was truly honoured to be a little part to inspire the next generation of stars – I hope to be back one day soon’.

Miss Miller – Head of Performing Arts