A GROUP of young dancers have lost their stage smiles today after not one, but two performances they were due to give this year were cancelled.

A GROUP of young dancers have lost their stage smiles today after not one, but two performances they were due to give this year were cancelled.

Members of Happy Feet Dance School, based in Combs, were asked to perform at two events this summer.

But the Picnic in the Park event in Stowmarket in June was cancelled as well as the group's scheduled performance at the Best of Stowmarket Show at the Regal Theatre in July.

Mari Green, principal at the dance school, said she was upset with the late notice in both cases and revealed the group had even foregone the chance to appear at another festival to perform at the Best of Stowmarket Show.

Mrs Green, who formed the dance school in 1989, said: “It hasn't been handled very well.

“We are dealing with five and six-year-old children and it has been really upsetting for them.

“They support the town and this is what happens. We feel completely undervalued and completely disrespected.”

The Best of Stowmarket Show was run by Stowmarket Town Council and in a bid to make up for the disappointment it offered the girls the use of the Regal Theatre for their next show at a reduced rate. Mrs Green said the rate still works out at three times the cost of the school's usual venue.

She said the dance school, which performs for free at events in the area and has raised more than £4,000 for local charities, deserves better treatment.

She said: “Obviously the Town Council feels no responsibility for the immense disappointment caused to these youngsters and in view of the support Happy Feet Dance School has given the town it is a pity it is not reciprocated.”

In a statement Stowmarket Town Council, said it did not take lightly the decision to cancel the Best of Stowmarket variety show but did so because Happy Feet Dance School was the only confirmed act. It added that the Picnic in the Park was not a council organised event.

The statement said: “The Town Mayor, councillor Poppy Robinson, subsequently wrote personally to Mrs Green to express her sincerest apologies and to invite Happy Feet Dance School to perform at one of the Mayor's events during her year of office.

“We hope that Happy Feet Dance School will continue to engage and entertain the Stowmarket community and endeavour to support the school any way that we can.”

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Weblinks:

www.stowmarket.org

www.happyfeetdance.co.uk