Crosshill’s Company School of Dance is bursting with pride after its young stars brought home a remarkable 58 titles from the UDO British Dance Festival in Blackpool.
The village studio lit up the famous Winter Gardens over three action‑packed days last weekend, returning to Fife with 11 British champion crowns and almost their entire squad now qualified for the World Championships back in Blackpool in August.
“It went fabulous,” beamed teacher and co‑owner Ashleigh Yule. “We’re just so proud of every single dancer.”
The biggest roar of the weekend came for the school’s battle crew, who went one better than last year’s runners‑up finish to win their section outright. Ashleigh said: “The battle crew winning was honestly the biggest achievement of the weekend. It really made everybody’s weekend. We had all the other Scottish dance schools there supporting us, rooting for us – it was such a nice experience.”
Dancers as young as four took to the big stage alongside team‑mates in their mid‑teens, with some not only making their British debut but competing for the very first time.
“They were definitely nervous and scared, but once they got on the dance floor they were like, ‘Can we go up and do that again?’” laughed Ashleigh. “The competition was crazy busy, we were running room to room and some had two‑minute changes, but they honestly handled it like total professionals. I was exhausted and I was only there as a dance teacher!”
On top of the 58 titles, The Company chalked up around another 50 quarter‑final and semi‑final places, often missing out on finals by the tiniest of margins. “Honestly, everybody danced the best they could have,” said Ashleigh. “We were just so chuffed that everybody gave it 100%.”
She reserved glowing praise for the families who turned Blackpool into a wall of noise for the Fife dancers, with the parent team – reigning British champions going into the event – finishing runners‑up this time but still with plenty to celebrate.
“Their support is honestly amazing,” Ashleigh said. “All the mums and dads, cousins, everybody that comes to watch give 100% – cheering, clapping, just giving good energy. They support every child, not just their own, and that makes such a difference.”
There will be no resting on their laurels in Crosshill. Less than 24 hours after the last medal was handed out, the studio lights were back on and the music turned up as the squad began the next chapter of their journey.
“We finished the competition at 8pm last night and we are back in the studio tonight, working hard,” Ashleigh said. “The kids are still absolutely buzzing – and that just makes them hungrier for more. Worlds is in August and the work starts now.”
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