Youngsters at Pure Dance Academy Oldham have secured a finals spot in a prestigious competition after freestyling their way rock n’ roll style to the top.

Dressed in blue, the group called Razzle Dazzle stuck to a Navy theme at the International Dance Teachers' Association (IDTA) Freestyle and Rock n’ Roll qualifiers on Sunday (June).

The youngsters, aged nine and under, performed at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in front of a panel of adjudicators to secure a spot in the national finals.

The last 12 dancers in any event are awarded the opportunity to represent the North West at the IDTA nationals, which is due to be held at Blackpool Winter Gardens in November.

However, teams must come first in order to represent the region – and Pure Dance’s Razzle Dazzle bagged the win.

The event was the team’s first-ever competition with the youngest to dance in the group being just six years old.

Rebecca Jarvis, Principle of Pure Dance and dance teacher, said: “I feel extremely proud of each and every one of them.

“To go on the dance floor in front of such a lot of people and perform their hearts out at such a young age is such a massive achievement.

“The amazing results on top were just an added bonus.

“Nationals here we come”, she added.

Razzle Dazzle weren’t the only victorious dancers from Pure Dance Academy with numerous children winning individual dances, meaning there were plenty of winners and finalists all around from the Oldham studio.

The win is of extra significance to the academy which was forced to close its doors for over 12 months during the pandemic.

The group was short of dancers when the academy first opened but Ms Jarvis said she is "bursting with pride" at what all the young dancers have managed to achieve.

"It felt so good to be back", Ms Jarvis added.