A TALENTED Darlington schoolboy has set up his own dance academy after being inspired by his favourite dancers.

Polam Hall student Brandon Holloway, 16, is focusing on street dance at his Heighington-based dance academy called Voltaire Dance.

Brandon has been dancing for 13 years, but has been doing street dancing for six years and decided to set up Voltaire after previous bad experiences at other dance schools.

Dance acts Flawless, Diversity and George Sampson were Brandon's main inspiration to start his own venture.

He said: “Just watching those videos inspired me to try and copy those moves and come up with my own.

“Since I was a little kid I remember dancing to a Justin Timberlake CD and just walking around the room and doing a little dance.

“It’s just always been there really. You might say it’s been an emotional outbreak from life.”

Brandon dreams of moving to London in two years, but hopes to keep his North-East dance school active, while setting up another Voltaire group in the capital.

He added: “I left my dance school – no one would actually believe me. They were going like, oh it’s a pipe dream – it won’t work, and I’m doing it now.

“Me and my mam were actually sat at a competition and we were just talking and thinking to ourselves, wouldn’t it be good if we actually did something ourselves that would be worthwhile.”

Voltaire dance school is open every Thursday evening at Heighington village hall and classes are £2.50.