A group of young dancers from the Norwich Community Sport Foundation's (CSF) Storm Dance Company have successfully qualified for a national competition.

The group, made up of girls from the Norwich area, will be competing at the International Dance Teachers Association Nationwide Medallist of the Year Competition.

They will enter the Freestyle and Rock 'n' Roll category at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool this weekend.

'This is a massive event –hundreds and thousands attend,' said Frankie Stafford, the founder of the company and CSF's dance development officer.

'It is the one thing we work towards and you only get one chance; it means everything.

'The group are completely buzzing about it. To know we've got the full group through is amazing.'

This is the fourth year running that the company has had all its dancers qualify. They have also qualified for the street dance championships in March.

The dance group, which trains at the Miller Dance Centre, in Ropemakers Row, north Norwich, is the newest addition to CSF, which helps thousands of adults –able bodied and disabled – achieve their goals through sport.

Mrs Stafford said her girls had a mix of aspirations, with some wanting to go on to be dance teachers and some wanting to be professional dancers. She added that other members just took part for the fun of it and to be part of a group.

Mrs Stafford merged her old dance company, Frankie Jayne dance, into CSF, and is now helping to change the lives of young people and says she is amazed at what they can achieve.

Mrs Stafford added: 'They are all so young, just kids. To do this after being thrown in the deep end is a massive achievement. Lauren Haughton (under 13's freestyle pairs) has never competed before and now she's qualified for this.

'They came through extremely competitive regional qualifying sections in their respective events at Braintree Leisure Centre and now they are gearing up for the toughest test yet.'

At the competition in Blackpool, there will be about 100 entrants in each category, with competitors from schools and clubs nationwide. Storm Dance Company is a new development for CSF, specialising in street dance, freestyle, disco, American cheerleading and ballet.

For more information, visit www.stormdance.org.uk.

Are you or someone you know about to compete in a big competition? Call Joe Wilkes on 01603 772474.