Sollus team meet Louis Walsh at event

The dancers made the trek to compete in the UK finals of Talentfest 2015. They won a place in the finals after coming out top in the Northern Ireland heats.

The group performed in the beautiful Empress Ballroom in the Winter Gardens. They were entered in the Junior Group dance category.

The judges from a number of prestigious dance schools were watching their every move as the young team members stepped out. Among them was the director of pineapple dance studios, Debbie Moore, as well as TV personality and game show judge, Louis Walsh, made famous by his often heated appearances on hit TV show ‘X Factor’. Both judges were impressed with the young dancers’ efforts and gave them great feedback and praise.

Commending her young band of dancers, the director of Sollus Highland Dance, Georgina Kee-McCarter, who travelled with the team, said she was proud of their efforts.

Speaking on Monday, as they prepared to fly home from the competition, Georgina said: “I am so proud of the dancers. They put in so much extra work and rehearsals to learn the new routine.

“They were really young for the age group and put on a brilliantly professional performance amount top class dance and theatre schools from across the UK.

“I would like to thank the dancers, they are my superstars and never let me down. They always stick by me with all my crazy ideas.

“I also need to thank my family, mummy and daddy and my granny for helping with organising the trip and making the beautiful costumes which looked amazing on stage. And, lastly, the whole of Team Sollus. The parents have worked hard and supported the dancers through the whole process. From all the extra rehearsals to doing hairs the help has been amazing as always. I am such a lucky dance teacher to be supported by an amazing team. They stick by me 100 per cent and give me their upmost time and commitment. I am truly grateful and thankful to each and every one of them,” she said.

Although the team failed to make it onto the winners podium in Blackpool, they did an amazing routine. View video and photos by logging onto www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk and looking in features/videos.