A COMMUNITY dance group will be taking centre stage at one of the biggest sporting events of the year.

Bolton All Starz dance group is not only celebrating 23 years at the heart of the community this year, it is also excitedly preparing for its biggest stage yet — performing at the Rugby League Challenge Cup final at Wembley.

The children’s group, based in Brownlow Fold Community Learning Centre, won a national competition to show off the dancers’ best cheerleading moves on the pitch during the half time interval of the international tournament.

Group leader Alison Power set up the group in 1996 and in its time, the dancers have raised more than £750,000 for charity. Ms Power says this is their greatest achievement yet.

Ms Power said: “I’m absolutely over the moon, I feel really proud and it’s a big thrill for the kids to perform.

“We found out that the tournament was looking for a group of dancers and we sent in a video of the children dancing. Then we got a call to say we had won and off we’re going!

“This is the best thing we’ve done so far.

“Some of the children have danced at Bolton Christmas lights and some at the Winter Palace, but the chance to go to Wembley is special.

“There were only around 4,000 people at the Christmas lights, now they’ll be dancing for 50,000.”

The dance group has 75 members ages four to 16 and a select group will be participating in the Wembley show. The exciting news has been met with support from the wider community.

To meet the cost of the coach trip, Paul Morris, the owner of local business Premier Screeds, has sponsored the children providing hoodies and t-shirts.

The dance team have been given a special piece of music to dance to and are now diligently rehearsing every week for their pom-pom performance in the lead up to the August 24 final.

Ms Power said: “They all work so hard and it’s a massive achievement.

“They’re just jumping for joy.”