Greatest Dancer participant Lily Straughan has been chosen to take part national dancing convention

Sunderland dancer, Lily Straughan, 11 has had a great start to 2020 as herself and dance partner eight-year-old Joseph Chow, were chosen by former Girls Aloud member Cheryl to go straight through to the live shows when they auditioned for the BBC One show, The Greatest Dancer.

Lily’s mother, Karen Straughan, 47, said: “She is loving every minute of it and she just wants to keep going.

“She was over the moon and ecstatic about being on the show – she loved meeting Cheryl and being chosen to go through straight away.”

However, Lily is only just getting started and has now been chosen, along with two other girls from her dance school, Zarah Roxby, nine and Leia Massey, nine who train at The Worx – Dance Theatre Arts in Sunderland to take part in the country’s biggest dance convention, Dance Stars as part of Can You Dance?

Lily will be taking part in the Dance Stars company and be placed into the senior group now that she is 11. Dancers from all over the UK audition hoping to be picked for a chance to join the company that offers young talent a chance to train with some of the best dance teachers in the country, as well as do a national tour and perform on the Can You Dance? Main stage at the Super Convention.

In the past Can You Dance? Has handed out scholarships to some of the best performing arts colleges and found ambassadors for two of the largest dancewear brands in the industry.

Karen added: “I’m over the moon for Lily and I’m the proudest mam ever for everything she has achieved in the shortest time.

“The whole family is so proud of how humble she is.”

Lilly will not join The Can You Dance, Dance Stars company until after The Greatest Dancer ends. You can continue to support Lily and Joseph as they compete on the show this Saturday (February 15) for the third live show where the theme will be ‘round the world’.