HASLEMERE Performing Arts' 'Stardust' group danced their way to success at Sadler's Wells.

The dancers beat off stiff competition to gain their highest placement yet at the prestigious Mardi Gras Challenge competition held every other year at the "Home of Dance".

They competed against 28 other dance groups from across the UK to come third in the junior section, on November 10.

Haslemere Performing Arts' principal Angela Cantan told The Herald: "We are all absolutely thrilled.

"We have been competing in this event for years and we won £500 for our entry, which was choreographed by Laura Amer, one of our teachers.

"The children were not handpicked, they just wanted to do it. They had to put a lot of rehearsals in.

"We started 10 weeks earlier and our entry was a combination of ballet on pointe, modern jazz and contemporary dance.

"The girls lifted each other up, so they also had to do strengthening exercises."

There were great celebrations when the dancers got back from London and gifts of flowers and chocolates for the choreographer and the wardrobe mistress Anne Silver.