Dubai: From 6 to 10 June, staff, and students of GEMS Wellington Academy – Silicon Oasis (WSO) have been treated to an engaging and memorable dance workshop residency by Sam Lathwood, the Dance Captain from the West End cast of beloved classic musical Mary Poppins. 

Sam has joined the school’s Performing Arts Team and has been leading workshops in West End choreography, running question and answer sessions about the theatre industry, and delivering mock professional dance calls and auditions. 

WSO is the GEMS Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts and Theatre Technology, as well as the ArtsEd International flagship school in the Middle East. As part of the school’s partnership with ArtsEd, Sam has been mentoring and coaching WSO’s gifted and talented students, as well as running team-building sessions for staff, and teaching warmups and simple choreography from Mary Poppins. 

WSO staff and students have had a week that’s ‘practically perfect in every way’! 

Sam Lathwood, Dance Captain of ‘Mary Poppins - The Musical’ said: “I have had an amazing week at GEMS Wellington Academy – Silicon Oasis, bringing West End choreography and dance to these talented students. It has been a pleasure to learn from them, as well as be able to share my experiences.” 

Jodie Quirke, Academy Acting and Production Arts Programme Manager at GEMS Wellington Academy – Silicon Oasis, said: “Thanks to our partnership with ArtsEd, WSO is proud and pleased to be able to bring talent like Sam into the school to create a unique learning experience. What our students have learned and practised this week will help them progress in their further arts studies and careers.”