Dance Factory
Dance Factory was founded in 2007 by Aimee Mac Manus. Aimee has been dancing all her life and obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance Studies from the University of Wolverhampton. Aimee decided to open a dance school that was different to the other dance schools in Mullingar. And so Dance Factory, school of dance mostly train in urban and street dance. Dance Factory fuses Commercial Hip Hop, Pop, Latin, Afro Caribbean, Jazz and Bollywood into their choreography.
Dance Factory like to compete in competitions around Ireland and in the past few years have got to the finals twice. 'Street Stars' the 9-12 years crew came second in Dance Factory's first time competing. 'Street Stars' also made it to the finals last year. 'Unit 1' the Teens dance crew came 3rd in the first competition of the season last year and received medals as well as bringing home a trophy for Dance Factory. As the dance crews are currently preparing for their next competition they hope they can dance another medal winning performance.
As for the performance side of things, the dance school have performed on West End stages two years in a row. 2009 was in the Shaftesbury theatre which was home to the famous musical, Hairspray. The following year in 2010 Dance Factory returned to the West End to perform in Her Majesty's Theatre where Phantom of the Opera is based. It was part of a European dance school show case and Dance Factory danced routines choreographed by Aimee. While enjoying their time in London, they took a master class by Rudeye the UK's No.1 professional dance agency.
During the dance school year, when they are not preparing for competitions, Dance Factory performs every St.Patrick's Day or in any festivals held in Mullingar as well as their annual showcase in May.
Dance Factory introduced the Angelina Ballerina Dance Academy to Mullingar and other areas in the Midlands in 2011. This dance academy is for young children from the age of 3 years with big dreams! It is an introduction to dance which includes, ballet, hip hop and musical theatre. It is a fun way to start out in the dance world and it includes the 3 most popular dance styles which children can experience in a fun environment. It is a class full of treats and surprises and there is a website designed for parents and children to help and encourage them to practice at home. Angelina the famous mouse herself comes and visits the studio to see how the children are progressing in their dance class.
In the same year, Aimee joined the Mullingar Arts Centre as a dance tutor with the Kinder and Junior Stage School. She also choreographed for many variety shows and musicals in the past. She is currently working with Kilbeggan Secondary school as they bring Grease the musical to the stage in November. Aimee is also helping St.Mary’s C.b.s choreograph for their musical Our House .Aimee became choreographer for the student players’ in 2011-2012 and has choreographed Happy Days and Miss Saigon. The next musical Aimee is choreographing for the student players for their ten year anniversary is Les Miserable which will go on stage in April 2014.
Aimee, herself continues to train and learn new performance skills in dance to improve her dancer’s performance and keep up date with the new and ever evolving dance styles and trends. Aimee recently had a West End performer over from the UK to give a work shop in Matilda and Bodyguard the musical.
Dance Factory are starting classes in All-Fit Gym in Castlepollard from 5th November in Hip Hop for 5-18 years and 3-6 years in Angelina Ballerina Dance Academy classes.
Dance Factory was based in Lynn Industrial Estate the past five to six years but is now relocating to the Mullingar Arts Centre
