ALTON independent dance aAcademy Art-V-Motion (AVM) returned triumphant from the ProAm Champions competition on the first day of the DPA Bournemouth Summer Festival.

Principal teacher and co-owner of AVM Vitor Lemos Fernandes said: “ProAm is a big step up for our students and they all performed with distinction, exceeding expectations, achieving no less than four first places, two seconds, a third, fourth and sixth in various categories.

“We couldn’t be prouder of the whole AVM competitive team.”

It is all systems go for AVM who will be moving from their current location at The Bell House Studio (now the Joneses Studio), to take up residence, from September 1, at Alton Assembly Rooms where they will enjoy more space and more opportunity for additional classes.

With an ethos of “making dancing accessible to all no matter what age or ability”, AVM will be offering two full days of teaching ballroom and Latin American at the Assembly Rooms, from 8am to 11pm on Mondays and Thursdays.

While the booking has resulted in the relocation of Alton Sequence Dance Club to the upper room at the Assembly Rooms, with the offer of a stair lift, and Alton U3A Scottish Country Dancing sessions, which take place two hours every fortnight for nine months of the year, to Medstead Village Hall, according to Alton Town Clerk Leah Coney the 30-hour a week, all year booking was a commercial decision the town council could not pass up.

Having worked with both hirers to find suitable alternatives, Mrs Coney said that the loss of a two-hour booking, for nine months of the year was regrettable but, in fairness to the tax payer, Alton Town Council could not be turn down a regular 30 hour booking - not just because it will support the long-term viability of the facility but because it would introduce more potential hirers and ensure greater use, which would be better for the building.

On September 1, AVM will be holding a launch party/open day from 2pm-5pm when potential dancers can meet the teachers, check out the new dance schedule, and enjoy an afternoon of social dancing.

There will also be a performance by four of the ProAm students and a professional demonstration by two of the Art-V-Motion teachers.