Hartlepool dance students bring home bronze medals at this year’s Dance World Cup

Millie Bedding, 18, Kaitlin Eglintine, 19 and Ava Doughty, nine, from Dance World by Kellyanne Stevens, in York Road, performed an award-winning acrobatic trio performance that earned them a bronze medal.

The nine-day-long event, which took place in Braga, Portugal, saw more than 120,000 dancers from 62 countries compete.

The three students, alongside 15 of their peers, also performed a group acrobatic routine, with Kaitlin performing a tap solo in a bid to wow the judges.

Kellyanne said: “It was a great week. To qualify and be there was an experience and amazing opportunity within itself, not to mention actually performing and competing on an international stage amongst 64 other countries.

"And then to bring home a bronze medal. It’s just unbelievable. I am so proud of all 18 members of our team.”

This is the second time Kellyanne’s students have competed in the competition.

Last year, when the event was held in San Sebastian, in Spain, students came fifth out of 13 competitors for their group acrobatic routine.

Speaking at the start of the competition, Kellyanne said: “This time, I feel it is a little more special as we are the only school in Hartlepool going.”

She added: “It is also Dance World's 10th year so these things just make it a little more special.”

Nineteen-year-old Jessica Franklin, who competed in the large acrobatic troupe, said: “I feel really proud of myself and my team. The whole experience was humbling and seeing dancers from all over the world was amazing.”

Eighteen of Kellyanne’s students performed in the routine, placing seventh in the world out of 15 dance groups.

Jessica, who has been dancing since she was two, said: “I would like to thank Jasper Maudsley, who is the franchisee of the McDonald’s I work at, for his support and sponsor for the competition.”

Kellyanne would like to thank all the businesses and individuals who have supported the dancers and helped contribute to the costs of attending the competition.