YOUNGSTERS from Westwood with Iford Primary School are hoping to get through to the final of a national competition.

They travelled to Bristol today to compete at the South West regional heat of the Great Big Dance Off, a national dance competition for schools.

Their performance took place at St George’s Theatre in Bristol and involved a group of 25 pupils aged 6-10 years.

They danced ‘In the Mind’, a contemporary dance choreographed by their teacher Karen Hobson.

“For some of the pupils, this was their first public performance, so I am not expecting them to win,” said Mrs Hobson. “The competition is designed to promote imagination and dedication to teamwork.”

Their costumes comprises grey dresses and wolf-like facepaint, with the youngsters dancing to the ‘Running with the Wolves’ music.

Karen, 43, added: “It’s all about the emotions that you feel when you are different and running with the wolf pack.”

Mrs Hobson, of Linden Crescent, Westwood, teaches dance at the school every Wednesday. Her daughter Erin, 10, is one of the group of pupils who competed in the regional final.

The pupils performed the 210-second piece before three judges and were competing against 19 other schools from all parts of the region.

The first, second and third-placed schools in the regional heat will go through to the final.

Preparations for the competition began last November, with the group deciding which contemporary modern dance to perform.

The competition is the only national dance competition aimed solely at schools and is open to all schools across England and Wales.