A SCHOOLBOY from Chalkwell matched the England football team coming fourth in his own World Cup.

Luca Mollica, 11, found success in an international competition coming fourth in the 2018 Dance World Cup held in Spain.

He beat thousands of entrants to win a place representing England at the international competition.

Dancers from 54 countries took part in the prestigious contest in a variety of styles, including ballet, hip hop, street dance and modern.

Emma Mollica, 42, Luca’s mum, said: “Luca joked how he felt on par with the England football team after they came fourth in the football World Cup.

“It has been the best year ever, he has been phenomenal in everything he has done.

“Luca’s entire year at school watched him perform.”

In addition to finding success at the competition the schoolboy has performed in various productions by the Royal Ballet.

He recently won the senior boys’ ballet award at this year’s Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) ballet awards.

Luca was also offered a full scholarship to the prestigious Tring Park School in Hertfordshire that boasts alumni such as Lily James and Daisy Ridley.

However he turned the place down in order to stay at his local ballet school the Joanne Bond School of Classical Ballet in Rayleigh where he has studied for the past two years.

Mrs Mollica said: “Luca has progressed so much with Joanne so he was eager to stay and continue this progression.”

This September Luca will progress from a junior to a mid associate at the Royal Ballet School alongside him starting secondary school at the Eastwood Academy.

The Joanne Bond School has recently won the 2018 Dance School of the Year Award and the Innovation for Male Dancers Award.

Joanne Bond, the school’s principal, said: “It’s amazing how much Luca has come on.”

Boys currently account for around thirty per cent of the school’s students. However, Mrs Bond hopes that Luca’s success will encourage more boys to get involved in the traditionally female dominated art. Luca’s mum said: “All of Luca’s friends have been so supportive. I’ve had many parents of boys saying their sons want to start ballet too.”