A GROUP of Basildon dance students will perform on stage at the London Stadium alongside pianist and Britain’s Got Talent winner Tokio Myers.

Some 27 students from Woodlands School, in Takely End, have been selected to perform during the pre-match rugby entertainment for the Saracen’s Derby Day fixture against Harlequins on March 24.

The dance students from Woodlands were picked to collaborate with the Pro-Excel dance and events company in December last year to headline the British Formula 1 Grand Prix. The performance was such a success that they have decided to continue the collaboration.

The dance squad, made up of pupils from the schools Elite Development Programme (EDP), required applicants to audition for a place on the team.

Each student must perform a solo, tap and ballet routine during their audition.

Head of dance at Woodlands School, Anna Timms, said: “We have students that perform professionally outside school. There’s currently two students in the group performing in the West End shows Matilda and Frozen. But we also have students that aren’t afforded that opportunity for a variety of reasons but they’re incredibly talented and that’s what we’re looking for.”

The school runs EDP programmes in a variety of subjects to encourage students to reach their full potential in a subject that they already have an interest. Other subjects include football, rugby, athletics, basketball and netball.

Once chosen, students participate in a rigorous rehearsal schedule on Monday evenings and Tuesday and Thursday mornings before school. In the weeks leading up to their performance, students rehearse from Friday to Sunday 10am to 6pm.

Their performance at the Olympic Park will see them perform an eight-minute routine before Tokio Myers joins them for a performance of his latest track during the pre-game show.

Anna added: “They are done, and ready to go ahead of schedule. We’ve drilled the routine into them so much and they’re all great at it.

“The team have been working extremely hard and we were very proud to be asked to perform.”