THEY may have only been rehearsing a year but they have already secured a place at a top international dance championship.
It was third time lucky for dance team Fusion, of Roxie's StreetStars, who will be jetting off to sunny Florida next year to compete against dance troupes from around the globe.
They won the exclusive place in the American contest at only their third competition performance.
The eight-strong team of youngsters, aged eight to 14, hip-hopped their way to glory with a mix of songs from the Black Eyed Peas' Pump It to Jessie J's Do It Like A Dude.
"We just thought we'd be supportive and wait to see who had won the place in Florida, so we could congratulate them," said choreographer and head coach Roxie Cooper.
"Then they announced we were the grand champions, so all the parents were clapping, but they didn't really know what it meant.
"We've never won it before, so it was funny they didn't know what they were clapping."
Fusion competed at the ICC Summer Jam competition in Blackpool last weekend and came first in their Junior Hip Hop category.
But the grand champions of the day – the ones who receive the highest marks from judges – were also given a spot in an international dance championships in Daytona Beach, Florida.
"I knew it was a really big prize," said Roxie, 26.
"I've been competing in senior teams for years and its always something you want to win, but I've never won it before.
"When they said Fusion had won, it was just crazy.
"I couldn't believe it."
Fusion, who are Georgie Roberts, eight, Phoebe Mudd, eight, Daniel Watson, nine, Roisin Phillipson, 11, Lucy Adams, 12, Sarah Rouse, 12, Georgie Eggleton, 13, and Becky Watson, 14, began rehearsing together in April last year.
Their first competition was the ICC Summer Jam in July last year, which they won.
When they returned this month, it was only the third time they have taken part in a dance contest.
"It is a real team effort," said Roxie, who teaches the team at the sports academy next door to St Mary's in north Hull.
"Over the past year, they have worked so hard together.
"All the parents and kids get on well and we're just like a family.
"Everyone helps contribute ideas and say what music they want, what the outfits should look like and what make-up the girls should put on.
"I'm so proud of them because they all work really hard – they even come to rehearsals when they've been feeling ill."
But winning the place in the Daytona Beach, Florida, competition, which takes place in April next year, was easy compared with Fusion's next challenge – raising the £10,000 needed to get there.
Roxie is still waiting to hear from organisers whether the trip for the two-day competition will be part-funded, or whether they have to get all the cash themselves.
Roxie said: "It is a massive amount to raise and I really hope we can do it.
"We did some fundraising before, but it was a couple of hundred pounds for a mini-bus to Blackpool and the entry fees.
"I don't think some of the younger ones understand the scale of what is involved.
"They've said 'we'll do a walk across the Humber Bridge again' – it's cute, but I need to explain we're going to need a bit more than that."
The first fundraising event will be a performance at a Family Fun Day on Wednesday, August 14, at Cottingham Sports Pavilion.
Roxie said: "If we don't get to go, we'll use the funds we raise to help us with other competitions.
"But it would be such a shame if we didn't get there.
"They really deserve it."
