A CROSSGATES dance academy who will disco their way to Disney next year have set their sights on a Transatlantic tango.

Centre Stage Dance Academy, which is based at the British Legion on Main Street, are preparing to fly to Paris next year to perform on stage at Disneyland as it marks its 25th anniversary.

A group of 15 dancers aged between 5-14 will take part in the 'Perform in the Magic' experience, which provides dance or performing arts schools the chance to enjoy an on-stage performance within the Disney parks, after successfully auditioning this year.

The trip is set to be one of the academy's highlights since it was opened by principal tutor Louise Ferrier, who recruited another dance tutor in August due to its continued growth.

While looking ahead to Paris, Louise said: "We've been expanding nicely and we've got classes from 18 months right up to adults. We're on four full nights a week and we're doing more dances as the kids get older; they want to do more styles. Acro dancing is a big thing, where they do flips and tricks within the routine, and although it's more difficult to grasp the kids are really keen on it. It's more exciting for the audience to see, too.

"It will be the 25th anniversary on the weekend that we're there so we're really busy with that. We've got a group of 44 with 15 dancers going, so there's a lot to organise, and for the show we've got eight long numbers. We've started four of them and they're working every Friday night for hours; the youngest is five and the oldest is 14. They're buzzing!

"It will be really exciting and one day I'd love to take them to somewhere like Los Angeles to perform. That would be amazing."

Louise, who started dancing at just two and has performed around the world including New York, continued: "We are working on our bi-annual show at the Carnegie Hall in June but got loads of fundraising things going on for Paris. We had a race night on Friday November 25 and made £1,342; we were so pleased and we'd like to thank Carlos from the Woodside Hotel, in Cowdenbeath, who hosted the entire night for free as well as making donations!

"We're doing everything you can imagine because it will be an expensive trip, but it will be worth it. Everyone has their own favourite Disney character or film, and the kids will do a workshop with a cast member from Disney.

"They'll have memories to last a lifetime."

The group will be cheered on by one of their biggest fans, Louise's cousin Stephanie Inglis, the Commonwealth Games silver medallist in judo.

She will make the trip as she continues her recovery from a motorbike accident in Vietnam and Louise added: "Steph is a familiar face at the dance school and has been our head chaperone! We kept saying to the kids that it's fine, she'll make it, and now we know she will be there the kids and parents are delighted, as am I."

Centre Stage, who also hold classes at Kelty Community Centre, offer a variety of classes for youngsters from 18 months and upwards, including acro dance, team performance, street dance and adult fitness classes.

For more information, find them on Facebook or visit www.centrestageda.co.uk. If you would like to make a donation to their Paris trip, visit http://www.gofundme.com/2sb9a24.