YOUNG dancers from Malvern and Worcester will be flying the flag for England at the Dance World Cup in Romania, which is being billed by organisers as "the greatest all-genre dance competition on the planet, for children and young adults".

But first of all, the Harlequin Stage School, on the Droitwich Road, needs to find £35,000 to send a big team to Bucharest this summer, and a fund-raising drive has been launched.

Competition will be fierce in Bucharest, form June 28 to July 4. A total of 18,000 competitors from 38 countries will be there, but the Worcestershire dancers will also be there in strength.

The Harlequin dancers were auditioned by the experts who select the England team.

They can only take three representatives from England in each age group and category; but they were so impressed with Harlequin that they selected 10 soloists, 7 duets, 14 trios and 16 groups to take to Romania.

Paula Dymock, who runs the school said: “The honour of making the selection team and to know that you are training students on a world level is fabulous. We have achieved so much in England and to be able to now stand on a world stage representing our country is taking some sinking in.

"I really do feel very, very proud of my students and teachers that they have reached this standard. This is going to be the biggest competition that Harlequin have ever entered and its such an honour for us.”

She added: "The girls are all so excited about going and competing with all the other countries; but its an expensive trip so the parents have set up a committee to try and raise £35000 so we are looking at all different ways of raising money including sponsorship."

Anyone would like to help support Harlequin should go to, friendsofharlequin@gmail.com