A DEDICATED young dancer has proved that her success in winning a regional tap title last year was no flash in the pan.

Keen all-round dancer Stephanie Lund excels in the tap category and took the International Dance Teachers' Association North-East of England Junior Championship last year, at the age of 11.

The competition is open to participants from across Yorkshire and the North-East, who are aged from ten to 14.

At the weekend, she went back to the Horsforth Festival of Dance, Speech and Drama, near Leeds, and retained the title.

Although she also performed in other solo, trio and troupe events, with fellow members of the Marron School of Dance, of Marley Hill, near Gateshead, Stephanie was particularly keen to do well again in her tap speciality.

Her mother, Valerie, said the tap cup was back in its rightful place on the mantelpiece at the family home in Shadforth, near Durham.

"It was right in the middle and we've just had it engraved," she said. "We had to take it down with us to Leeds, but it's now back in its same spot.

"This was one of 15 dances she did in the competition in different categories at the festival. But after winning last year, this is the one she wanted."

Stephanie has been dancing regularly for six years, for the past five coached by teacher Vicki Richardson, at the Marron School.

With the help of her mother and father, Peter, she attends three to four classes a week as well as taking part in regular local competitions.

Next in her sights is a major championship in Lytham, Lancashire, at the end of the month, and July's Junior Tap Challenge, in Manchester, which she also aims to retain, following success last year.