A group of 40 north-east boys have taken part in Dance Proms at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
The dancers, who train at Danscentre in Aberdeen’s Hutcheon Street, were selected from an international competition judged by a panel which included dancer Wayne Sleep and Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell.
The group comprised of youngsters aged between five to 17 who performed Bad Education, a hip hop dance basic in a school common room, set to music including Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall.
A second Danscentre group of six dancers performed Auld Lang Syne, a mini-ballet set to the music of Robert Burns.
Danscentre principal Karen Berry, who has recently become head of teaching at the Royal Ballet School in London, said: “The dancers were amazing. It was a weekend that will stay with them all forever. The boys took it in their stride – even the very young ones. The Royal Albert Hall is a huge stage, and the dancers performed in the round so we had to restage both dances and rehearse them for many months.
“It was absolutely worth it and my teachers and I are so proud of them all. They embraced the experience and really put Aberdeen on the world dance stage.”
The school was one of only two dance schools in Scotland to be selected for Dance Proms, and was the only school to secure two places. The dancers were the only all-boys group to take part.
“In Aberdeen I don’t see the same resistance to boys attending dance classes that I have seen in many places in Britain and in fact worldwide,” said Ms Berry.
“Aberdonians are cultured by nature and seem to see through the ridiculous prejudices and perceptions that dance classes are only for girls. Dancers are trained as athletes and as such are strong and skilful as well as expressive and musical.
“I think more and more boys are being inspired to start dancing, and Dance Proms gave us a chance to bring their talents to a far bigger audience.”