A DANCE group based in Barry Leisure centre has won the first prize in the UK’s largest dance competition – beating more than 500 dancers on the day .

The Sway Dance competition group emerged triumphant when they took part in Dance Challenge UK in the Winter Gardens, Blackpool on Saturday, November 16.

They performed Putting on the Ritz.

And Ben Osbourne took the best dancer award.

The squad is made up of 15 young talented boys and girls, aged eight to 15, and is run by principal Nicola Hudson and instructor Amy Windle.

This year is the first year the group has competed externally and so far they have had five competition wins.

Principal, Nicola Hudson said: “We entered Dance Challenge in April and could not believe it when we got first place, a choreography award and a place at the finals in Blackpool.”

The team trained hard and fundraised throughout the summer to allow them to travel to Blackpool.

They also performed at GlastonBARRY in Romilly Park.

Ms Hudson said: “It was a dream come true when they placed first and also had a best dancer award for Ben Osborne.”

Sway Dance, founded eight years ago, has around 80 children on its books.

The group offers exam classes as well as performance/competition in street, ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical.

Classes run on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday.

For information, email Nicola.hudson@legacyleisure.org.uk