YOUNG dancers are set to perform a climate change-inspired routine as the first ever UK entrants in an international dance competition.

The 14 Dance Connection students, all aged between 11 and 17, will compete on behalf of Team GB at the International Dance Organisation's World Show Dance Championships in Germany in November.

The Wallingford-based school has put together a team which will be the first in the UK to take on the category.

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Founder Sam Benson said: “In every genre of dance there are world championships.

"So far, Team GB has represented their country in tap and street dance, but none of the other dance styles have ever been represented.”

Herald Series:

Picture: Ed Nix.

The dance company was approached to represent Team GB at the international show dance championship this year as some of its members had competed on an international level in other dance genres.

Show dance is a style of dance which must have a story or theme, and can be danced solo, as a duo or trio, or as a larger group.

The team of 13 girls and one boy have been taking part in a rigorous training regimen ahead of the contest from November 18 to 23.

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Mrs Benson said: “Some of them at the moment are doing four to five days a week of training.

“A lot of them are girls that have quite hefty school loads. It is a lot but they are really hardworking kids.

“They are used to commitment and discipline.”

Though it is early days for the Team GB show dance crew, they hope the calibre of their dancing will carry them out of the initial round in this competition, with a view to improve in the future.

Herald Series:

Picture: Ed Nix.

Next year, the dance coach and one of her Dance Connection colleagues will hold nationwide auditions for the Team GB show dance team.

Mrs Benson said: “Obviously we are going there hoping we will place somewhere.

“When we compete on the circuit in this country we do very well but we know we are stepping this up.

“Even if we get through the first round of this it will be an incredible achievement.”

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The team has put together a series of entries for the competition, with help from former students who have returned as choreographers.

Mrs Benson said: “We have got some pieces on the go which we hope will reach the final.

“There is one piece we are really quite excited about. It is a piece about climate change. It is all based around Greta Thunberg and her speech at the UN.

“That’s quite a poignant piece and it’s quite current.”

Herald Series:

Picture: Ed Nix.

The piece will see dancers follow a routine to music which is interspersed with a voiceover of Miss Thunberg’s speech to world leaders.

There will be a trio of Dance Connection competitors taking place in the climate change focused piece.

The dancers from Dance Connection taking part on behalf of Team GB are: Lily Pike, 14; Ellie Stanier. 15; Ibella Barter, 11; Alicia King, 15; Kit Swaddling, 12; Lily Lovatt, 12; Rosa Vaccari, 12; Natalya Tilley, 14; Alexandra Kenney, 12; Zara Reynolds, 13; Jamie-Leigh Carrington, 14; Tia Afilaka, 13; Ellie Lyes, 17; and Leah Jones, 16.