DANCERS of all ages have twirled to success to put south Essex on the map in a national competition.
Thirty dancers from the Western Dance Centre, in Hadleigh, made their way to the Nationwide Medallist of the Year competition in Blackpool, after qualifying to represent the South East.
The dance centre had finalists in nearly every class in the two-day latin and ballroom dancing competition, including two first places and three seconds.
Rianna Ellis, 13, from Wickford stole the show in the under-12s ballroom dancing section winning the top prize while Katie Vickers, 12, from Benfleet, came second.
One of the biggest success stories was 43-year-old Sue Pask, from Thundersley, who won the ladies 35 to 49 Latin section despite having been dancing for less that 18 months.
Rianna's mum and school dance teacher Janine Ellis, 32, said: "Just to get all these people qualified was brilliant but to have so many finalists as well was very good."
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