BUDDING performers took to the stage for an annual dance competition.

The young dancers strutted their stuff at the Sussex Festival of Performing Arts, which was being staged at the Windmill Theatre in Blatchington Mill School, Hove.

The week-long extravaganza started last Friday, March 27, with youngsters aged four to 18 all competing for medals, awards and special prizes as well as a chance to qualify for the All England Finals.

The curtain was brought down on the event on Thursday.

Among the styles of dance included in the week-long event were classical ballet, modern, song and dance, national, contemporary and character dances, where dancers portray people like Alice in Wonderland.

Crowned best dancer of the week was 16-year-old Charlotte Oliffe, who wowed judge Yasmin Taylor.

She was given a mammoth score of 90.

Jo Arnett-Morrice, festival manager, said: “It’s gone really well, we’ve had a lovely few days where lots of children have done very well on stage.

“It’s a great experience for them to kickstart their careers and it’s not just solo dancing, so they’re learning how to dance as part of a group too if they want.

“The younger dancers learn an awful lot from the older ones and the older ones enjoy passing on their knowledge to the younger ones.

“It’s a great community feel. It’s been running since the 1920s, but we’ve had to have a few name changes along the way to keep up with the modern times.”

The established competition is twinned with the Gibraltar Dance Festival and each year a dancer is sent to perform at the event.

For more details visit sussexfestival.co.uk