Melton Mowbray dancer Ben celebrates becoming a world champion

Ben, a former pupil at Brownlow Primary School and John Ferneley College in the town, was selected to compete for Team England at the Dance World Cup Finals in Dublin following rigorous auditions.

He was crowned Dance World Cup Champion in Song & Dance, as well as being judged runner-up in the Jazz class, fifth in the World in Acro category and eighth for World in Contemporary.

His mum, Kerry, told the Melton Times: “To have all four of his solo routines place within the top eight in the world is an exceptional achievement and reflects the commitment, determination and talent Ben has shown throughout his training.

“I am so proud of his achievements – I never expected any of this.”

Ben travelled to Ireland alongside his teammates from the Kirby Muxloe-based True Blue Dance Academy to compete against thousands of dancers from across the globe.

The week in Dublin was filled with unforgettable experiences, from performing alongside some of the world's finest young dancers to celebrating achievements with teammates and making friendships with competitors from other countries.

To make the occasion even more special, Team England were crowned the overall Dance World Cup Champions, finishing top of the medal table and once again proving the strength of dance talent across the country.

Georgia Phillips, principal of True Blue Dance Academy, commented: "We couldn't be prouder of Ben and every single one of our dancers.

"To see Ben come home as a World Champion is an incredible achievement and one that is thoroughly deserved.

"His work ethic, determination and love for dance have been evident throughout his preparation, and to finish with four solos all placing in the top eight in the world is simply phenomenal.

"The entire team represented both our academy and Team England with such professionalism, humility and passion.

"Beyond the medals and results, the memories made together in Dublin are something our dancers will cherish forever.

"Watching Team England lift the overall Dance World Cup title was the perfect way to end an unforgettable week."

Ben is juggling his dance training with studying for a BA (Hons) in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre at the Urdang Academy in London.