ACADEMY students are to perform with Russell Watson this Christmas.

The YSBD (You Should Be Dancing) Theatre Academy was invited to perform in ABBA Mania this month at the Opera House in Manchester.

As a result students have been invited to sing with Russell Watson in his Candlelit Christmas special at Gorton Monastery on December 21.

Before that the academy has another major date, performing at the Handforth Christmas lights switch-on on Saturday, November 25.

The Cheadle Hulme academy is owned by sisters Hannah and Amy Goodwin, who are originally from Handforth and attended Wilmslow High School before embarking on a musical theatre course in London.

The academy offers singing, drama, dance and film and TV classes for two to 18-year-olds.

“The company has gone from strength to strength in the past two and a half years, and we would like to share that success with Wilmslow Guardian readers and offer them the opportunity to be part of the YSBD family,” said Hannah, the academy’s principal.

“I am running school clubs at primary schools in Wilmslow, Handforth, Bramhall and Hazel Grove, and Amy is currently touring as second cover Elphaba in the UK tour of Wicked.

“This year our Halloween Spooktacular is being led by West End star Maria Coyne, who has just finished covering Christine Daae in Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre.”

The first class at the academy is free.