Girls to represent England at Dance World Cup

A group of street dancers will fly the flag for England after qualifying for the finals of the Dance World Cup.

The youngsters, aged 10 to 13 and from Avian Dance School in Norwich, will join more than 120,000 competitors from 66 countries at the event in Spain in July.

Avian said it would be fundraising over the coming months to help meet the "significant cost" of their travel, accommodation, entry fees and costumes.

"This is an extraordinary opportunity for these young dancers and it's been a privilege watching them grow in not only technique and performance level, but also self-confidence and self-belief," said principal Harriet Wigger.

"Supporting this group of young girls achieve their dreams is something we are truly proud of and we can't wait to see them shine on the world stage like the stars they are."

The qualification rounds saw as many as 90 entries per category, with only the top five securing a place for England.

Two of the girls will compete as a duo, with the entire nine-strong squad performing as a group during the finals in Burgos in northern Spain.

"This monumental experience comes at a significant cost to the dancers and their families, as each dancer must fund their journey themselves," said Avian, which is seeking sponsorship from local businesses.

The Dance World Cup was first held in Jersey in the Channel Islands in 2009 and bills itself as the largest all-genre dance competition for children and young adults.

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