A SCHOOLGIRL from Hockley will defy her tender age when she captains her country at the Dance World Cup later this year.

It marks an incredible journey for Greensward Academy pupil Mia Bonner, who was living in China two and-a-half years ago and just dancing for fun.

Mia has been selected to captain team England at the Dance World Cup in Spanish coastal city San Sebastian at the end of June.

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She moved to China aged two with her family in 2012 after her mother got a job in the country of her birth.

When Mia was seven, she began dance lessons while studying at an international school where she was a star athlete, playing football, tennis, swimming, while also pursuing long jump, high jump and 200 metres.

Echo: Ready to compete - MiaReady to compete - Mia

“She was just doing the dance lessons for fun back then,” her mother Anne said. “She was only training once a week so she could be with other kids, but now she is dedicated to it.”

In January 2020, the family returned to England for an extended holiday.

Then in March, the pandemic hit, meaning they were marooned in the country they used to call home, with no way of getting back to China.

“During this time Mia started to get more and more into dance,” Anne explained.

Echo: Mia at her first show with the London Children's Ballet CompanyMia at her first show with the London Children's Ballet Company

“At the same time, we were forced to stay, as travel was banned.

"After a while we decided we wanted to stay here as she started to get these amazing opportunities to study ballet at big schools.”

Mia competed in last year’s Dance World Cup and came away with two gold medals, and is the reigning world champion for her age group in ballet solo.

She is a mid-associate of the Royal Ballet School and also attends the Joanne Bond School of classical ballet.

The Hockley youngster also just appeared in her first ballet with the London Children’s Ballet Company, Anne of Green Gables, at the Peacock Theatre in London.

“We are so proud of her,” her mum said.

“Before we came back to UK, she didn’t have that passion for the dancing.

"But when she came here, she found a fantastic teacher and she started to love ballet.”