A group of local young singers have wowed Paisley nursing home residents with a special performance, ahead of upcoming shows this summer.

Students of the Dream Believe Achieve Academy (DBAA) treated residents at Kyle Court nursing home to a variety of songs and dances in glorious sunshine on Saturday, May 18.

The songs were chosen from the academy’s upcoming show The Time Machine, and featured hits from throughout the decades - including Abba’s Dancing Queen, Don’t Stop Believin by Journey, and a medley of 60s classics.

The Gazette:

The performance formed part of a Care In The Community initiative, which sees DBAA pupils performing at local care and nursing homes.

It offers residents the chance to enjoy an enthusiastic performance, whilst giving kids the opportunity to sing in front of a receptive and welcoming audience.

Lucia Wright, academy founder and Renfrewshire native, said: “We started doing this three years ago.

"Partly to give back to the community through performing, and partly to give the children a platform to perform before their summer shows.

“The residents absolutely love it, they love seeing the kids performing and singing, and trying to get everybody clapping their hands.

“Some of the residents don’t have any family, or any young children in their family, but the kids just come in and put a smile on everyone’s face.

“And the kids love it too. They love performing - especially getting to perform outside in a different space.”

The Gazette:

Lucia founded the academy in 2017, moving back home to set it up after 10 years of singing professionally abroad. The first branch was opened in Glasgow’s Shawlands before others in Renfrew and Paisley followed.

She said: “I wanted a place that would be a hub for children and adults to build confidence and self-love through the arts.

"I was living in Dubai at the time and wanted to move home, and this was my project.

“I don’t tell my husband I moved home for him, I tell him it was for Dream Believe Achieve Academy!”

Lucia spoke about the benefits that kids get from singing and performing together.

“I’ve seen first-hand the positive impact that performing arts can have on children as they grow up,” she added. “We give them lots of performance opportunities, to grow their confidence and skills and feel good about themselves.

“A lot of these kids came through the pandemic, not socialising very much. We’re definitely still seeing kids hanging onto mum and dad who previously would not have been so nervous or shy.

“And it can be scary to join a new club and meet new people. But once they’re in, they love it. It’s really good for the kids, for building confidence and making new friends - being confident in their own self, being able to speak out and say how they’re feeling. That’s really important to us.

“We’re not just a club, we’re a family."

The Time Machine will be performed at Queen’s Park Govanhill Church on June 22, with two performances the following day at Renfrew’s Kirklandneuk Community Centre on June 23.

More information can be found at: https://www.dreambelieveachieveacademy.co.uk/