A DANCE teacher from Stourport has high hopes for the future after building up a school with more than 80 pupils in just 10 months.

Twenty-two-year-old Claire Boulton started dancing when she was three and fulfiled her childhood dream when she set up the Step By Step Dance Studio, in Stourport, in September.

Her students, whose ages range from two to 14, are currently in the middle of energetic rehearsals for Kidderminster Festival of Dance in July and Miss Boulton hopes this will be just the start of their stage experience.

Indeed, the enthusiastic teacher, who completed a degree in dance at the University of Surrey, hopes to see them perform in West End productions in the future and believes the Kidderminster extravaganza holds the key.

She plans to film their routines at the event, which will take place on July 10 and 11 and 17 and 18, and send them off to Mardi Gras Promotions, which organises productions in the West End for amateur dance groups.

The former Bewdley High School pupil, of North Road, Stourport, said: "I think we've got as good a chance as any one else of being selected (by Mardi Gras) - it all depends on the work we submit and hopefully it will be good enough."

She added: "Their routines will be modern and lively because that's what the kids enjoy doing the most. It is quite an ambitious thing to try and do so soon after setting up but I think it will be a great experience for the children."

More information on the weekly classes, which are held on Saturdays at Stourport Scout Hut, can be obtained by calling Miss Boulton on 07813 686926.

The group also rehearses at Areley Kings Village Hall during the week, where Miss Boulton hopes to set up a permanent modern and ballet class for six and seven-year-olds later in the year.