A Knaresborough dance school are preparing to represent England at the Dance World Cup in Prague next week.
Freedom Performing Arts qualified for the competition last November after their Large Group Commercial routine ranked third in the UK.
And the dance school, made up of girls aged 12-17, said they are “excited to put Knaresborough on the map.”
They will be flying out to compete in the competition next Wednesday (3rd July), with more than 65 countries and over 5,000 dancers set to take part.
Freedom Performing Arts Principal Amy Meikle told Your Harrogate:
"It’s amazing. We went to a gala last week to see some of the other teams that will be presenting and we were in absolute awe, they’re incredible and to be put in the same bracket as them is mind-blowing.
"We’re a little school from Knaresborough and we’ll be out there with the big guys!
The Dance World Cup will be live-streamed to thousands every day over the week-long competition.
And 22 Knaresborough dancers will be flying to Prague to represent their country.
Amy said:
"I’ve never experienced anything like this.
"It was always something that was a dream of ours but I think it was something that we saw other schools do.
"Never in a million years did I expect us to get through. The scale of it - I just can’t believe how big this event is.
The qualifying routine was choreographed by Amy Meikle and Commercial teacher Sophie Cussons, who trained at Freedom herself as a young dancer.
She has since returned as a member of the teaching faculty following her professional training.
Amy added:
"The focus from the girls has been absolutely amazing. We’ve been rehearsing twice a week every week since Christmas and they’ve given it their all."
Freedom Performing Arts will compete in a group alongside 24 other countries, each vying for first, second and third spot.
Their performance will be on Wednesday (3rd July) between 6:30PM-7:15PM UK time and can be live-streamed online via the Dance World Cup website for a small fee.
Team England is sponsored by Emergy Fitness & Wellbeing.
Freedom Performing Arts
Freedom Performing Arts Freedom Performing Arts was founded in 2010.
The school started with Street Dance lessons held at Aspin Primary School one night a week and has now grown into one of the biggest schools in the area.
Over 300 students attend a range of more than 50 classes every week with commercial and street dance still being at the forefront of what they do best.
Freedom recently took on the lease of the Old Castle Girls School in the Castle Yard, Knaresborough, giving it a huge make over and offering their students a bespoke dance studio.
Listen to Your Harrogate's Pete Egerton speaking to Amy Meikle below.
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