Something to cheer about

A Stalybridge dance teacher finally has something to cheer about after planning permission was approved to move into new premises.

Becci Cunningham, a talented coach with years of experience in dance and cheerleading, was forced to find a new facility to train in after Copley Academy, which had been home to Blaze Cheer and Dance Academy for years, was no longer available due to new Covid guidelines.

The news was a hammer blow to Becci, who had already been forced to move her classes to online platforms, such as Zoom, in order to keep her business alive.

Becci was running up to 20 online classes per week during the height of the pandemic and did her best to keep the sessions as fun as possible for her loyal students.

When restrictions were lessened in August, she temporarily relocated her club to Blaze Cheer studios on Oldham Road, Ashton, while looking for a permanent solution in the process.

Now, after months of anxious waiting, Becci has finally had planning permission approved for her own facility on Wharf Parade in Ashton, which will be known as The Cheer Lab, and is expected to be using it by November.

Speaking to Reporter Sport about the move, which has also seen the name of her club re-branded to Extreme Elements Cheerleaders, Becci said: “From the initial excitement of knowing we would be back training, to being told we couldn’t use Copley anymore was really frustrating.

“The novelty of using Zoom has worn off, and our athletes are now just raring to go in front of a coach.

“In a way, I’d been thinking about moving into my own premises for a few years, so while it was disappointing to lose Copley it also gave me the push I needed to go and find my own.

“It’s a really exciting time for everyone.”