DANCE and drama students wowed the audience with their latest performance.

First year students at East 15 in Southend performed The Dream, an African dance production choreographed by Assou Ayiga.

The 42 dancers became part of the same ‘dream’, where souls in torment search for help.

Students used djembe drums which are said to consist of three spirits: the spirit of the tree from which it was made, the spirit of the animal whose skin covers the head, and the spirit of the drum maker.

Mr Ayiga said: “Emotion ran high during the 50 minute show, with drumming switching from brutal to gentle, to disgusted, perhaps to provocation.

“The bodies’ souls shone with such deep dark power that they didn’t know they were living in the dream. All are plugged into darkness but the light shines through each life pursued by cries by winds.”

Praising his students, Mr Ayiga added: “The audience enjoyed it very much. They said it was a fantastic and amazing performance.”

The performance took place at the Clifftown Theatre in Southend.

East 15 is based in the former United Reformed church in Clifftown Road.

Run by Essex University it is one of the largest specialist theatre schools in the UK, with a distinguished international teaching staff and more than 850 students.