AARON Renfree, dancer for stars such as The Saturdays and Little Mix, has been in Swindon this week to launch the new MF Dance school.

Set up by Marital Arts guru Matt Fiddes, the new school specialises in street dance and the official opening took place today at Swindon Academy, in Beechcroft Road, with a special Dancing With The Stars showcase, including a performance from Aaron, who is the new head of MF Dance.

The choreographer was chosen to be one of the Junior S Club 7 gang in 2001. The young band went on to have top 10 hits such as One Step Closer and their own popular CBBC TV show. Aaron is still in touch with Frankie Sandford and Rochelle Humes who went on to become part of The Saturdays.

"We are best friends and it's great working with them again, but it shows the difference in the recording industry now. I have put music aside a little and I am concentrating on teaching, choreography and dancing,'' said Aaron.

Matt's own story is of a boy bullied at school who learned martial arts for self defence. He discovered a new way of life and way of being that he now passes on to other people. From his first school in Swindon, Matt now has 600 clubs across the country, he is personal trainer to many famous names, including Peter Andre and the late Michael Jackson and is now opening his dance franchise.

Matt said: "Aaron is a real draw for the young ones because they get all excited about his work with The Saturdays and Little Mix and the stars of today while the mums remember Junior S Club 7.''

Despite his early rise to fame, Aaron firmly believes in sound tuition and went back to study at Laine Theatre Arts.

He said: "I was lucky to get that so young, but it meant I was taken out of school and I always knew I would go back to train. It is so important to study, to get the discipline, to understand the environment, because in this business there is a lot to take in.''

His time at Laine opened doors to musical theatre and Aaron performed in both Flashdance and We Will Rock You in the West End, but his ambition now is to choreograph a full length musical.

"It would be wonderful to be part of a company in the West End as choreographer and see it come together and then go on tour. When I am working on TV or for recording stars it is a short lived show or gig. I am always hungry for doing and learning new things, there are lots of possibilities,'' said Aaron.

The choreographer is now head of MF Dance and believes in passing on his skills to help his students gain confidence in life.

"That's why I am interested in doing this, I can add structure, show them my journey, inspire them and later I would love to choreograph their shows,'' he said.

Working as both choreographer and dancer on shows such as X Factor and The Voice is a live TV adrenalin rush, he says.

"Reality TV is a mad experience lots of fun and lots of service stations,'' said Aaron.

The dancer is no stranger to Swindon having choreographed Aladdin at the Wyvern Theatre when Keith Chegwin was the star, and now he is back encouraging the next generation of dancers.

For more details of MF Dance visit www.mfdance.co.uk