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Team Guernsey are getting 'footloose' at the 2024 Dance World Cup in the Czech Republic where they're competing against 62 other countries.
The girls and boys, aged between six and 18, attend either GATE or Starlight dance schools and are jointly representing the island in categories including tap, ballet, jazz, song and dance, and lyrical.
Their trip has been supported by the Sarah Groves Foundation, Guernsey Arts, Grant Thornton, and Oak Group.
The Sarah Groves Foundation has paid for the dancers' Team Guernsey kit which they have been wearing while travelling to Prague and around the city during the international competition.
Vic Groves is Managing Trustee of the Sarah Groves Foundation, which was said up to honour the memory of his daughter, Sarah.
"Supporting Team Guernsey is a wonderful way to honour Sarah's legacy," he said. "Seeing these talented dancers bearing Sarah's name on their shirts as they compete internationally is very touching.
"Sarah loved sport, and the Foundation's core pillars - Children, Art, Fitness, and Adventure - are perfectly encapsulated by these talented young dancers flying to Prague to engage in friendly competition. We wish Team Guernsey the best of luck and will be cheering them on all the way."
This is not the first time the Sarah Groves Foundation has been a vital supporter of Team Guernsey.
In 2022, the Foundation stepped in last minute to provide crucial funding for the team's kit, enabling the 92 students competing then to participate in the finals in San Sebastian, Spain.
On that occasion, Guernsey won gold in the Junior Large Group Song and Dance category.
This time round they're hoping for more medals, said Catherine Webster, co-principal at GATE.
"Flying 59 GATE students to Prague is no small task – we are thankful to the parents for chaperoning and making it possible. GATE has previously won three gold medals at the World Cup, and with 62 countries competing this year, we know the competition will be fierce.
"However, we remain hopeful. We are so pleased with the kit, it looks fantastic, and the children love it!"
Helen Colmer, Sponsorship Coordinator of the Dance World Cup, said the travelling team are determined to make the island proud.
"We feel very lucky to be taking such a large dance team to represent Guernsey across to Prague next week to compete in the Dance World Cup Finals," she said.
"The children have worked so hard and are certainly ready to showcase their talent on the world stage.
"We’d like to thank The Sarah Groves Foundation, who kindly supplied the team kit, as well as our other sponsors: Guernsey Arts, Grant Thornton and Oak Group who contributed towards the event fees.
"This is such an exciting opportunity for the dancing community, and we hope to make our island proud as well as making some incredible memories along the way."
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