County youngsters qualify for Dance World Cup

Nine-year-olds Georgia, Louis, Grace and Milly (left to right) are representing their theatre school and Team England in the Dance World Cup

A Northampton dance school is seeking another podium finish later this month as its young competitors head abroad for the Dance World Cup.

Top Hat Theatre School qualified as one of a number of teams to represent Team England at this year's finals in Prague, Czech Republic, starting on 27 June.

The group has winning pedigree, with its junior team placing third in Braga, Portugal, in last year's world event.

The children said they were "excited" to show judges "what [they have] been training for".

The group's managing director, Julie McKenna, said her main focus was "keeping the children happy"

The international contest attracts more than 120,000 children aged between four and 25 trying to qualify in their country, said organisers.

This year's Northampton team consists of 27 students aged from six up to 14 and the youngsters will perform a "Happily Ever After" routine.

The school's managing director, Julie McKenna, said despite last year's success, it was not important where the children finished in the rankings.

"It's not about winning trophies, it's not about the Dance World Cup, it's about keeping the children happy," she said.

'We threw a party'

Georgia, who went to Portugal last year, said it was "an amazing experience" and the team was looking forward to competing again.

Grace said: "It was such a relief [to qualify]... when we found out we threw a party."

Another team member, Louis, who attends "around 10 classes a week", said travelling around the world to dance was "amazing".