Young dancers from a secondary school in Forest Gate have been strutting their stuff at a dance extravaganza for the chance to perform at the Southbank Centre.

Students from St Angela’s Ursuline School, aged 11 to 18, have taken part in the Step Into Dance project to showcase their dance talent to an audience of friends, teachers, families and fellow pupils.

Step into Dance is a partnership programme between the Royal Academy of Dance and the Jack Petchey Foundation.

Hosted by St Angela’s in St George’s Road on May 2, it will pupils from St Angela’s Ursuline competing against up to ten other secondary schools including Wanstead High School, Ilford Academy Ursuline, Barking Abbey School, Marshall Park School, St Angela’s Ursuline School, Robert Clack School, Cardinal Pole Roman Catholic School, Central Foundation Girl’s School, Mulberry School for Girls and Swanlea School.

The event is organised by Step into Dance, a community dance programme which aims to encourage greater participation in all forms of dance.

Groups that show real dedication and commitment will be invited by Step into Dance to represent Newham in their flagship celebratory event, Step Live! 2012 at Southbank Centre on Saturday July 7.

Schools from 32 London boroughs and Essex will be presenting their dance piece at this year’s Step Live! 2012 which is part of Southbank Centre’s Festival of the World Season and Big Dance 2012. ?

Sue Goodman, Step into Dance Artistic Director, commented: “For many of our dancers, this will be the first time they have performed in public, so understandably they are excited about showcasing their skills to an audience here in Newham as well as the chance to take their performance to Southbank Centre in July”.

Many of the pupils who show a particular flair and talent for dance have gone on to join the Step into Dance Youth Company, touring London’s most highly renowned performance venues.