Teenager’s career blossoming since starting dancing at 10
By Lesley Walsh
A NEWTOWNARDS teenager is living the dream of many young dancers after performing on the same stage as the iconic dance troupe, Diversity, during the biggest dance event in the world.
Eighteen year-old Korie Goodfellow was among the best dancers in the country to perform before thousands on Saturday at the Move It event, at London’s Excel dance centre.
The event was among the pinnacle achievements of her burgeoning career, which began at the age of 10 and has taken her to one of the most prestigious colleges in the country, the Liverpool Theatre School.
The skilled young dancer performed a contemporary routine, created by one of her tutors, the award-winning choreographer, Dane Bates.
She also got the chance to enjoy performances by a whole host of professional dancers like Randall Watson, who has shared the stage with Rihanna, Taylor Swift and Little Mix.
Hailing from the Glen Estate, Korie started dancing while a pupil at Londonderry Primary School, attending competitions in Newtownards and Belfast during the very first year of her new hobby.
She began with classes in lyrical dance, jazz and ballet and commercial – a bit of a mix of hip hop and jazz.
That pastime soon became a passion and by the time she was 14, while attending Strangford College, Korie realised ‘it was something I wanted to do’ for a living.
By that age her appetite for the dancing life had already been whetted through various competitions, including the World Lyrical Dancing Federation’s World Championships.
An avid fan of dancing shows on television – including Strictly Come Dancing, which she watched with her mum Victoria – Korie began researching training programmes that would help secure her a future in dancing shoes beyond secondary school.
She found the Liverpool Theatre School and decided that was the route for her. And after a rigorous round of auditions, Korie secured a coveted place on the Level Five Diploma in Contemporary Dance, which she began in September 2023.
Korie secured a portion of financial aid for the course, with her mum and dad Gary also supplementing that with financial support to ensure their only child could follow her dreams.
The Goodfellows have been cheering her on from the outset, footing the bill for every costly costume purchase – beautiful perks of the skill, says Korie – whether they were bought online or custom made.
It’s been a labour of love over the years for the dancer, with her gymnastics skills attained in her younger years helping her a good deal with many of her moves.
“I still had to work hard to learn the techniques, but it’s just so good and I just love it so much,” she said.
Speaking a day before travelling from Liverpool to London for the dance event last Friday, she added: “I’m so excited to have the chance to perform on the main stage at such a huge dance event. It’s going to be an incredible experience.”
Liverpool Theatre School Principal, Maxine Ellis, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our talented dance students. Move It is one of the most important events on the calendar for the dance and performing arts industry and we’re really looking forward to Liverpool Theatre School being part of it.
“I know Korie and the rest of our students will do themselves proud as they put on a wonderful show.”
Liverpool Theatre School graduates can be seen in smash hit musicals such as Mamma Mia!, Frozen, SIX, Starlight Express, Blood Brothers and Wicked, while many former students have gone on to enjoy successful careers as professional dancers and choreographers.
The centre of excellence, whose patrons include Wayne Sleep, accepts only the most talented students on its professional training programmes, with places allocated through a strict audition process.
For further information on the courses like the one Korie is undertaking, visit liverpooltheatreschool.co.uk.
