A GROUP of Surrey youngsters have put the finishing touches to their performances this week before they represent England at the Dance World Cup in Braga, Portugal.
The tournament starts tomorrow (Friday, June 30) and runs until Saturday, July 8.
The 35-strong squad, aged eight to 25, are all members of the hugely-successful Street Vibes Dance School in Sheerwater and part of Team England.
And they have plenty to live up to in Braga.
The dance school, whose students again competed as part of Team England, enjoyed remarkable success at last year’s World Cup in San Sebastian, Spain, collecting a gold medal, two silvers, a bronze, a fourth and a sixth from their six dances across the genres of hip hop and commercial.
More than 120,000 youngsters from 62 countries have taken part so far in the qualifiers for the Braga event, which is described as the greatest all-genre dance competition for children and young adults around the world.
Carla Crowley, who runs Street Vibes, said: “The kids have worked so hard to be ready for this. They’re a great bunch and I know they’ll do everyone proud.”
One of Street Vibes’ Team England performers, Henry Bowden, nine, said: ‘We’ve been rehearsing for the Dance World Cup for what seems like ages. And now it’s about to happen, it all suddenly feels very real.
“We’re really excited. We’re going to give it everything on stage and all do our best for Team England.”
The squad are hugely grateful to everyone who has donated funding and helped in their preparations for the Dance World Cup.
They particularly want to thank their squad sponsors Setfords Solicitors, Surrey Hills Blinds and Silk Signs.