Big Ballet group are dancing to top award

Eleven amateur dancers from the troupe who performed Swan Lake, which was broadcast earlier this year, teamed up with choreographer Daniel Jones to form Big Ballet UK - a ballet group for women all shapes and sizes - and they are in the running for a British Plus Size Award.

The group and Mr Jones - which includes Woodkirk mum-of-three Shona Stringer - have been nominated for the Best Achievement award.

Mrs Stringer, 38, of Castle Lodge Avenue, said: “It’s amazing to be nominated because we have come so far since Daniel joined us.

“We have all been on an emotional rollercoaster, we thought it was all over after the Channel 4 show but he has taken us to another level.”

The group who train every week at Mrs Stringer’s studio at Woodkirk Valley Country Club in Dewsbury Road.

They have danced at a Royal Ballet School event in August and have been invited to perform at MOVE IT - one of Europe’s biggest dance exhibitions - in London in February next year.

Voting closes on Tuesday and the winners will be announced at a ceremony on November 22.

To vote visit www.britishplussizeawards.co.uk/vote