A DISABLED dance company has been left ‘shocked and disappointed’ after being kicked out of the school dance studio it called home for five years.

Magpie Dance held classes on a Saturday morning at what used to be Cator Park School, Lennard Road, Beckenham, for about five years and thought it was a good tenant.

But three weeks before autumn term was supposed to start Magpie Dance received an email from the Harris Academy Bromley saying they would have to find somewhere else to rehearse.

At first Magpie Dance thought they would be okay as the email from Academy representative Martin Hemmings just said the sports hall was no longer available for hire in the evenings.

When they replied to say they rent the dance studio on a Saturday morning they were told this is now being divided into dance and fitness so renting it is not possible.

Since then Magpie Dance has written to the academy’s principal Emma Merva and the governors asking why it was not allowed half a term’s notice so the young dancers could say goodbye.

It has not had any reply.

Assistant youth group director Natasha Mansfield-Osborne said: “We are all really shocked and disappointed with the way we have been treated, we can’t believe they haven’t even been in touch with us.

“Our priority now is to find a new home; somewhere our dancers can feel happy in again.”

And Magpie’s general manager Laura Graham added: “We work with learning disabled people and change is a big thing for them.

“The dance studio was our home and we have had it pulled out from under our feet.

“We were trying to say can we just stay on for half a term so we can explain to the dancers and to gear them up to fact there’s going to be change.

“It has been really difficult.”

She added: “Part of the frustration is we have not been given any answers by Harris.

“We thought we had a good relationship with them.

“We are shocked by the way we have been treated.”

Harris Academy Bromley was not available for comment.

CAN YOU HELP MAGPIE DANCE FIND A NEW HOME?

The youngsters now split their time between rehearsals in a hall on the fourth floor of Bromley Central Library and Bromley United Reformed Church in Bromley town centre.

And News Shopper is appealing for our readers to come forward to help the group find a permanent home for their Saturday morning classes.

Anyone who thinks they have a venue suitable for Magpie Dance’s Saturday morning rehearsals after Christmas should send an email or call 020 8290 6633.