A GROUP of young performers from Swindon have made their international competitive debut at Disneyland Paris, defying expectations and coming away with a number of awards.

Eleven members of the Kitty Langan Studio Performing Arts School entered the Disney Dance Camp competition in categories including group dance, jazz, street dancing and even singing.

The group, aged between ten and sixteen, were up against performers from English-speaking schools across the UK and Ireland – many considerably older than the Swindon entrants.

Studio Principal and lead choreographer for the travelling group, Katie Langan, said: "We’d never competed before so I said to the kids that we probably wouldn’t get much because these kids probably compete all the time.

“When we placed in nearly everything my reaction was wow, I was really impressed.

“So impressed that we’re going again next year.”

Doing better than even their own coaches predicted, the team from the Kitty Langan Studio achieved two first places, nine seconds, three thirds, a fourth and a fifth.

Preparations for the contest began in September last year, with the children fitting in their training alongside their normal studio classes.

“We ran the preparation alongside the school, out of 100 kids that come to the school only 11 went to Paris so we had to separate things out which made it more challenging,” said Katie.

When the school, which is named after Katie’s nan Kitty, started in 2011, there were only three children registered.

Two of those three were part of the group competing in Paris.

15-year-old Lyndsey Logan entered four categories, coming in first place in one as part of a group vocal performance.

Lyndsey said: “It was amazing, I really enjoyed it. I’m definitely going again next year.

“Just to get the experience and be around the different groups and see their talent was great.”

After the hard work of the competition was over, the children were able to spend two days taking in the attractions of Disneyland Paris.

Katie added: “It was magical to be there, we were just celebrating after doing so well. It was so much fun.”

Plans are well underway for Disney Dance Camp 2017 and the kids from Kitty Langan plan to be back and performing better than ever.

Katie and her colleagues are coming up with new and novel fundraising ideas for the summer before rehearsals get underway in September.