BEHIND the doors of an office tucked away in Truro’s Mallets Ope, students limber up for dance to the strains of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. This is the Foundation College, run by for 16 to 19 year olds by Jason Thomas Performing Arts in partnership with Falmouth School.

Students can take a level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma and level 4 Diploma with Trinity College London; from September, a new level 3 BTEC course will focus on contemporary dance in collaboration with Cornish-born dancer James Wilton.

All this year’s students have been given offers from at least one top UK vocational college for September 2026. Three have been offered places at the Institute for the Arts in Barcelona, while another has been offered a choice of two full scholarships at top London colleges.

“All the blood, sweat and tears is followed by tears of joy because they’ve got into the college of their choice,” said Jason. “It’s all down to hard work, living and breathing it - and the strong support of their parents.”

The Foundation College started as a privately funded one-year course, but grew in popularity and received public funding to expand. “Most colleges offer 13 to 15 hours a week – we offer 35,” says Jason, 54, who has been teaching children of all ages for 23 years, and higher education for 13.

His younger alumni include Lox Pratt, as seen recently in Lord of the Flies. A former diploma student is treading West End boards in Hamilton – The Musical, while others can be found on respected courses including Laine Theatre Arts, Northern Ballet School, Rambert, Urdang and Italia Conti.

Jason learned his trade in Camborne, joining Cornwall High School of Dancing - run by the charismatic Madam Norman - at the age of nine. At 11, he left home for the Legat School of Russian Ballet in Tunbridge Wells, and at 16 headed to London for bright lights and opportunity.

However, his professional preforming career ended at 32 following a knee injury. “I came home to recover, and was about to go back on tour with Grease when 9/11 happened,” he recalls. “That’s when I decided to go into teaching instead.”

This year’s cohort includes 18-year-olds Finley Rahn and Lily Wells. Talented Finley was offered two scholarships and has accepted a place to study dance and musical theatre at the Bird Conservatoire in Sidcup. “I’m excited to go somewhere new, and London is closer – it’s where everything is,” he says.

Inspired by youth theatre to pursue a career in performance, Lily, from Padstow, came to Jason to strengthen her dance skills. “The level of training is very high here, and it meant I didn’t have to go away at 16,” she says. She’s been offered a place at the International College of Musical Theatre, and a recall for two others.

See the results for yourself on Friday, May 29, when two shows directed by industry experts will run at the Burrell Theatre, Truro. The Foundation College will be joined by Jason’s younger companies from Truro and Bude.

And on Sunday, June 7, there will be an opportunity to audition for all three courses. For further information, visit www.jasonthomasdance.co.uk.