TWO talented dancers have beaten off tough competition to land places in an international competition.

Dylan McDonald, of Witton Gilbert; and Laura Oxley, of Greencroft, near Stanley; will take part in the International Theatre Dance Awards in Manchester in February.

The 16-year-olds are two of 500 students out of 7,500 who have been nominated after impressing in the grade four modern jazz exam.

They will be put through their paces with a series of technical sessions.

The Ian Pyle Dancers, who have ambitions to perform in West End shows, are now training hard to give themselves the best possible opportunity at the event.

Dylan said: “It is amazing. It feels really good to get a place - the hard work has really paid off.

Laura added: “It will be great to get the experience of the audition process and also competing against others.”

The pair, who train about three hours a week, already have experience of performing at Disneyland Paris and Her Majesty’s Theatre, in London.

They are hoping to create an even greater impression when they tackle their grade five modern jazz exam exam later this year.

Mr Pyle said: “The aim was to pass the exam but we knew there was a chance they could be nominated.

“They want to go to a dance school in London so this is really good experience for them.