TWO talented Kidderminster dancers wowed the judges at the All England Dance national finals in London.

Ellie Mae Fereday was a runner-up in the Young Modern Dancer of the Year competition after winning silver in the section and being chosen as one of six out of 31 to go through to Sunday’s Gala Awards, with adjudicator Bonnie Langford.

Daniel Richards was awarded bronze for his Musical Theatre solo with his rendition of Some of us Belong to the Stars, from Billy Liar, which also earned him a Scholarship to attend London’s prestigious ArtsEd, musical theatre school’s week-long Easter course.

Seventeen-year-old Ellie Mae and 15-year-old Daniel train with the award-winning Kidderminster dance studio Splinters and have appeared in several pantomimes and musical shows, including West Side Story and Fame, with associate company Limelight Productions.

Daniel, whose mum Sarah is also appearing in the show, has also starred in several productions by the Kidderminster Operatic and Dramatic Society, most recently as Munkustrap and Mr Mistoffelees in Cats.

Splinters and Limelight director and choreographer Jane Bennett said: “I am absolutely delighted for Ellie Mae and Dan. They are both exceptionally talented and totally committed performers. Their success at All England is very well deserved.”

The pair can be seen in the forthcoming Limelight Production of Footloose, at the Civic, Stourport, from September 11 to 15, in which Daniel has the principal role Ren McCormack and Ellie is Irene.

Also appearing in the production is another Splinters old boy, Sam Wall, who has recently appeared in the hit BBC TV series Peaky Blinders.

Tickets, priced £12 (concessions £10) with a special rate of £10 for the opening night, are available from The Civic box office, Martins Way, open weekdays 10am until 2pm and Saturdays 11am until 1pm. Call 01299 823339.

Tickets can also be booked online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/limelight (booking fee applies) or direct via Facebook at Limelight@limelightkidderminster.