A 12-year-old Lawn Manor Academy pupil has finished her first year at the school with a double whammy of achievement.
Mia Oakley, who has just completed Year 7, performed in Disneyland on one day and won a gold medal in a regional martial arts competition the next.
Mia was one of a group of pupils from Lawn Manor Academy who were invited to give a show at Disneyland this summer, following the school’s success at the Paris-based resort last year.
In 2022 40 pupils from Lawn Manor Academy won a group competition to perform a special routine for the Disney Performing Arts Team.
The Disney Performing Arts OnStage programme gives amateur groups the opportunity of a lifetime to demonstrate their talents and experience the thrill of performing live on a Disney stage.
Having wowed the Disney staff with their talents from rock ‘n’ roll and musical theatre to modern day song and dance, the pupils were asked to return for an unprecedented second visit to Disneyland to perform live on the Disney stage this year, and again proved a great success.
Not one to rest on her laurels, Mia returned to the UK after the show and the next day headed off to Bristol, where she competed in the Point Stop Sparring category at the South West Martial Arts championship and picked up Gold in her age group.
Mum Sally Oakley said Mia, who is already a black belt in martial arts and attends the MF martial arts school, was unfazed by the busy schedule.
“We’re really proud of her,” she added.
“She started sparring six years ago, and got a Gold in an international championship four years ago, but the long Covid period put a stop to all that for a while.
"But now she’s able to compete again, she’s giving it her all, whether in sparring or on stage.”
Natasha Dixon, Lawn Manor Academy’s head of dance, said Mia’s commitment and stamina are a credit to her and the school.
“We are all hugely proud of Mia,” said Ms Dixon.
“Her fighting skill is so worth the watch – and it’s particularly amazing that she accomplished that just one day after performing in Disneyland with her fellow school friends. She deserves all the accolades she gets, and we’re sure she has a very bright future ahead of her.”
Lawn Manor Academy is part of the Ascend Learning Trust.
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