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Dancer, 12, celebrates double world championship win

Alexandra Bassingham
BBC News, West of England
Family handout Isla, a 12-year-old dancer, has her blonde hair back in a ponytail and is wearing a black t shirt with 'I am a world champion' written on it. She is holding two bit trophies, which are silver, black and purple in colour. She is standing in front of an England flag and smiling at the camera.Family handout
Isla won twice at the World Freestyle Championships in Blackpool

A 12-year-old girl says it was "mind-blowing" to walk away from a dance competition as a double world champion.

Isla, from Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset, competed at the World Freestyle Championships at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on 28 and 29 June.

She entered the freestyle solo and slow dance categories, facing up to 60 dancers from countries including South Africa, Ireland and Norway.

Isla, who trains at Dynamics School of Dance in Bristol, said: "It's like living in a dream."

Family handout Isla in her dance costume, with the England flag wrapped round her. She is holding a trophy and has her blonde hair in a high ponytail, elevated by a a hair cuff, making the style very high. She has dance make-up on and is smiling at the camera. In the background there are helium balloons with the word congratulations written on them.Family handout
Isla's mother said her daughter's achievement at this age was "crazy"

Isla's mother Fiona said she was "absolutely shocked" by the result, especially as her daughter had only recently taken up dance.

"To achieve something like this, being so young, is crazy," she said.

Fiona said her daughter was so nervous after a win on the Saturday of the competition as she waited to compete in a final the next day.

"She told me she couldn't feel her legs… and slipped on her opening move... so to win from that, we just weren't expecting it at all," she added.

Family handout Isla in a gold dance outfit with her blonde hair in a high ponytail, elevated by a a hair cuff, making the style very high and a gold head band on her forehead. She has a purple world champion sash and is standing next to a white balloon with congratulations written in gold on it. There is a trophy in front of Isla and an audience in the background. She is in a ballroom with a wooden floor. Family handout
Isla said winning both titles feels like she is "living in a dream"

Emma Mounter, head of Dynamics School of Dance, said: "Everyone at the dance school is just super proud.

"She's extremely hard working and anything we throw at her, she takes on the chin and works exceptionally hard."

Isla said she was grateful to her dance teachers Ms Mounter and Maizie Rugman, and her sponsor Alex Weston "for everything they have done to help me achieve this".

Her mother said she was not sure when it would sink in but "we can't wait to see what's ahead for Isla".

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