A FORMER pub in Newport is in the early stages of being transformed into a dance studio.

The renovation of the upper floor of the Docks Conservative Club, on Pottery Terrace in Pill, is the new project of dance teacher Nicole Read.

Mrs Read, 21, has been dancing from an early age and studied dance at Filton College in Bristol. She passed with a distinction and, at the age of 20, became the youngest qualified dance teacher in the country.

Mrs Read founded Diva Dance Academy in August 2017 and has seen her dance school expand at such a rate that she required new premises.

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“I have over 65 dancers now and the school is doing great,” she said.

Diva Dance Academy have been raising funds for nearly a year in order to make their dream of having a larger studio space a reality.

“We have packed bags in local supermarkets,” said Mrs Read.

“We have also had some fantastic donations from local companies which I am so grateful for.”

Work on the renovation project is scheduled to get underway today (Saturday) and Mrs Read added that she can’t wait for the next stage of the school’s journey.

“We are very excited for our studio to be finished,” she said.

“We cannot wait for what we have ahead of us.”

Hailing from the Pill area, Mrs Read went on to say that she feels that her area of the city often gets looked down upon.

However, she is keen to show that it is an area of the city which shows promise and believes that her school’s new dance studio can stand as an example of that.

“We are always hearing bad news from the area like it’s full of crime and wrongdoings,” she said.

“This is affecting the young ones’ futures.

“Being from Pill has a stigma attached and people look down on you.

“I feel I wanted to give something back and give the children a focus and passion like I had as a child and to take them off the streets.

“I want to help change people opinions of pill and show the community it isn’t all bad.”

Diva Dance Academy are still accepting donations, so if you would like to help out, contact Mrs Read on 07857455216 or email readn24@icloud.com