DANCERS from South Lakeland represented the Maria Frances School of Dance in the Association of American Dancing (AAD) national troupe competition at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

The under-9s performed a magical number called The Elves and The Shoemaker and were awarded third place.

Snow White and the Huntsman was performed by the junior troupe and it climaxed with the crashing down on stage of a 10-foot high mirror. It fell down as Snow White, played by Tegan Patinson and the Hunstman, Lia Healy, defeated the wicked witch played by Chloe Ferguson. The performance gained the troupe first place.

Senior dancers performed The Evolution of Dance, A Taste of Cuba and Feeling Good. They came second with Evolution, which was a combination of ballet, contemporary, Latin, Broadway, tap and commercial dance.

A Taste of Cuba gave a flavour of salsa and was choreographed by Samantha Harfoot, who has danced with the school since she was young. The head of the AAD loved the colours and energy in the dance and awarded it third place.

The schools last dance was Feeling Good, with the dancers looking sophisticated in their costumes. It was awarded fourth place.

Dance teacher, Maria Rosewarne, who has been teaching dance in Ambleside, Penrith, Cockermouth, Whitehaven and Workington for nearly 30 years. said: "My dancers are from all over Cumbria and they come together in Cockermouth each Saturday for five months to perfect the dances."

"They come together not only to dance, but to become a team, improve their dance ability and make new life long friendships."