It's a huge weekend for two Hartlepool dancers as they take on the best in Britain

Emily Pettite, left, and Georgia Lennon, right with Leanne Jeffries.

It’s been a great year for the Elwick Academy of Dance and Northern Arts Academy, which are both based in Bathgate Terrace in Hartlepool.

They have achieved the great honour of having two students - 19-year-old Emily Pettite and 16-year-old Georgia Lennon - qualify for the grand finals of the Miss Dance of Great Britain competition.

The prestigious finale of Miss Dance of Great Britain and Dance Master UK takes place in Blackpool tomorrow.

It is the 43rd year of the event and will only feature dancers who have won one of the heats held at dance festivals all over the UK.

The Hartlepool academy’s success was welcomed by Leanne Jeffries who runs the set-up.

She said: “We are all looking forward to watching them perform.

“Emily is currently continuing her training in musical theatre at London Studio Centre and Georgia is studying for her A levels at English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College.

“Emily danced at the grand finals last year but this is the first time for Georgia.”

The two girls will be up against a field of around 50 other hopefuls who have also qualified by winning regional heats.

Georgia is no stranger to success.

The 15-year-old won the Performer of the Year category at last year’s Best of Hartlepool competition. Since then, she has been the leading lady in Durham’s Gala Theatre Stage School production of The Phantom of the Opera and successfully auditioned for the Samling Academy, which trains young classical singers.

She took part in the 2015 Proms at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Youth Choir, and was cast as the Mother Abbess in English Martyrs School & 6th Form annual production of The Sound of Music.

Last year, Emily qualified for the Miss Dance of Great Britain finals by winning a heat of the competition in Wallasey near Liverpool.

At the time, Leanne praised her for her hard work and dedication.

And the two girls’ outstanding performances are a continuation of a great year so far for the Elwick Academy of Dance and Northern Arts Academy.

The dance school with a six-decade tradition of holding a pantomime performed Maleficent and the Sleeping Beauty, to continue the run first started by founder Freda Compton,.