FOCUS ON LOCAL PEOPLE

FOCUS ON LOCAL PEOPLE GEORGE HILL

Radstock born and bred, it is known amongst locals that George has done ‘something’ on stage but very few know what exactly this entailed so we have taken the opportunity to sit down with him and find out more.

Originally going to St Nicholas School in Radstock, George danced with his mother, Sue Hill, at her dance school and regularly took part in their annual shows. He was unapologetic about his love for dance and whilst a student at St Nicholas, regularly entered their annual talent competition with song and dance numbers.

George joined the Royal Ballet School in 1997 where he studied full-time at their boarding school, White Lodge. With the movie, Billy Elliot being released into cinemas around this time, many comparisons between Billy Elliot and George ‘Billy’ (William) Hill a 12-year-old from a mining village, were drawn and George received a lot of media coverage as the real-life Billy. Whilst training at the Royal Ballet School, George had numerous performance opportunities including the televised performance of the re-opening of the Royal Opera House, London, and danced on numerous occasions for the royal family. On meeting the Queen on one occasion she thought him ‘very thin’ suggesting he help himself to some more chicken!

In 2003, George was a finalist in the Young British Dancer of the Year and in 2004 was a finalist in the Royal Academy of Dance International Adeline Genee, performing in front of 4000 people in a live televised final at the Herod Atticus Theatre, Athens. When a member of the graduate class at school, George was fortunate enough to perform with the Royal Ballet in numerous productions as well as touring with the Birmingham Royal Ballet. In his graduation performance, George was fortunate enough to be cast as a leading role of Ashton’s Monotones II which he says still seems like a dream. In 2005 at 19, he moved to Germany after being snapped up by the Dresden Semperoper Ballet, a world-class ensemble of dancers. On his 21st birthday, George was given his first leading role as the Prince in The Firebird and after only two years in the corps de ballet (group), George was promoted to a soloist going on to perform leading roles in Swan Lake, the Nutcracker and Cinderella, as well as other neoclassical ballets working with famous choreographers. Feeling content with his balletic achievements George wanted to explore new avenues and broke into the world of Musical Theatre. Whilst on tour in Milan, George was offered and accepted a contract with Joy

Model Management where he modelled for some of the world’s leading fashion houses, including Prada and Jill Sander.

George came back to Bath after being offered a role in a film alongside Rupert Everet which was to be filmed in Bath. Missing his family and sense of home, George decided not to return to Milan and instead decided to stay home in Radstock and work alongside his mother Sue, teaching at the dancing school.

In 2012, alongside teaching for the dancing school, George, together with his mother, set up BDC (Bath Dance College) which is a level 3 foundation college for those that wish to go on to work within the performing arts. Based in the Victoria Hall Radstock, George describes BDC as “a sixth form that guarantees success” with 100 percent of graduating students being offered places at some of the most prestigious performing arts universities in the country. Drawing students from all over the country, BDC has gained a reputation for being ‘the stepping stone to success.’

Being a workaholic, alongside working full-time in Radstock with his mother at the Victoria Hall, George has still managed to fit in performing contracts, appearing in music videos for various popular bands including The 1975, commercials for brands such as Equinox, and even managed a West End run in 2015.

“I’m extremely proud of BDC, Sue Hill Dance, and all that we have achieved here. To give back to the students is a fantastic feeling and gives me a creative outlet whilst no longer performing. Some of our students have gone on to do amazing things and have fantastic careers and I am extremely proud to have been some small part of their journey.”