A DANCE school based in Basingstoke has been selected to represent Team England in Dance World Cup this year.

Meraki Dance Studios at the Westside Community Centre on Paddock Road has qualified a number of its dancers for the World Cup that will be held in San Sebastian in Spain in June.

This is the first time the Basingstoke school has made it to the Dance World Cup.

It will have pupils ranging from age six to nine performing in Show dance, Lyrical, Song & Dance and Commercial groups.

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Maxine Hadley, the principal of Meraki Dance Studios, said she is excited to take her team to the world cup.

“Just to get into the finals is such a big thing for us,” Maxine said.

“Many years ago we had a couple of soloists make it to the world cup. But this is the first time we are going as a group.

“We are a small dance school that caters to local families. We have done this much, and we will keep going and have a fantastic time in Spain.

“After what has been a turbulent few years for everyone, but especially children, we couldn’t be happier to be stepping up to represent our country to showcase our love of dance.

“We got a few months to work hard and prepare for the big event. It is going to be fantastic.”

Basingstoke Gazette: The Meraki team that will go to Spain for the Dance World CupThe Meraki team that will go to Spain for the Dance World Cup

The Dance World Cup is the largest all-genre international competition in the world with more than 20,000 dancers from nearly 60 countries participating.

There were more than 3,000 entries from England for the Heats, and the first four groups from each dance style have been selected to go to the event in Spain.

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Maxine opened Meraki Dance Studios in 1998. Currently it has just above 200 pupils ranging from age three to 17 and six teachers.

The studio is sponsored by Talent Locker, Rob Goddard and Hellermann Tyson.

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