Youngsters from a Clydebank dance school are over the moon at the outcome of their first competition since the pandemic.

Enthusiastic and determined dancers from April’s Street Feet won 45 trophies and medals at the Central Scotland Street Dance Championships organised by the United Dance Organisation (UDO).

Teacher April Stuart-Macrae told the Post: “UDO is one of the hardest competitions.

“The kids were in training most nights and giving up their weekends because it meant that much to them.

“It has been crazy trying to combine being a dance teacher, studio owner and mum, but all that hard work has paid off.”

And none caught the eye quite as much as the Nu Crew team, one of seven from across Scotland battling it out in the under 14s category in Perth, with one of Nu Crew’s youngest dancers only five years old.

April said: “When the first under 14 team went on they were all teenagers. They were amazing and I was convinced that they had won the category.

“Then my kids went on and they absolutely smashed it. They were in an age group far too hard for them.

“As we were watching the prize-giving it was so nerve-racking as it came down to the last two groups.

“One of them was called New Kidz and us called Nu Crew.

“I was shaking. Just knowing these kids had nothing for two and a half years and then being announced the winner of the category was brilliant.

“This is what keeps them off the street and disciplined. That feeling of going back to a competition and winning is simply indescribable.”

The last competition for the dance group was in 2019 before the pandemic put a stop to their activities.

“These are local kids in Clydebank and people don’t realise how huge this is,” April added.

“These talented youngsters had to dance and dance and dance to earn those trophies and they wholeheartedly deserve them.

“People don’t realise this is a sanctuary for them. Some kids in Dalmuir don’t even get to dream about dancing on the London stage.

“I want to thank my dancers, their parents and everyone who has helped us get to where we are. We couldn’t have done it without you.”

Nu Crew appeared on popular TV show Britain’s Got Talent last year and got four “yes” votes from judges Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden, David Walliams and Simon Cowell after performing a high-energy dance routine on stage in London.