Talented dancer takes third place in international competition

A YOUNG dancer from Teesside has tapped her way on to the international stage by taking third place in a competition involving young people from 31 countries.

Lydia Peverell, 12, from Marton, was among the top three in the solo tap dance category of the International Dance Federation World Championships held in Rimini, Italy.

She also came 12th in the modern dance section.

Lydia, who attends The King's Academy, in Coulby Newham, trains five nights a week with Nadine's Dance Company, in Hartlepool. 

In Italy, she was part of Team England, which took third place overall, after auditioning and securing a place in the national squad last year. 

"It was the first time I'd been to Italy and it was really nice," she said.

"I've been dancing since I was five and ballet is my favourite discipline.

Eventually I'd like to be a dance teacher or perform in the West End," added Lydia, who was British Champion at ballet in the under-tens category in 2012 and has qualified for every national final since then.