THIRTY dancers from a Swindon performing arts school took the X Factor stage by storm on Sunday as they supported one of the biggest girl bands in the world.

The girls, who are all students at Wilkes Academy in Westmead, were hand-picked to dance with pop superstars Little Mix as they performed their new single Shout Out To My Ex.

They appeared on stage in striking white t-shirts emblazoned with crossed-out names, wearing heavy black boots and carrying megaphones in honour of the sassy anthem’s defiant theme.

X Factor supremo, Simon Cowell, tweeted that the performance was one of the best he had ever seen on the show.

Academy principal, Jonathan Wilkes, said he was delighted with the efforts of his students, all aged between 17 and 21.

“It was amazing to see them put on such an extraordinary commercial dance performance. I felt very proud of them and the team here,” he said.

“We teach them to pick things up quickly and they picked up the routine in about a day and a half.

“They did a great job and it was very exciting to see them on television performing to an audience of millions.

“It is a great opportunity for our dancers and they get so many great opportunities here. Just last year some of them performed at the Brits.”

Indi-Jay Cammish, 19, was inspired to move to Swindon from her native Scarborough when she was just 16 because of the Wilkes Academy reputation.

She hopes to pursue a career as a professional commercial dancer and knows how much experiences like the one she had last Sunday could help in that quest.

“Chris Manoe from Dancers Inc came down to audition everyone with the choreographer Beth Honan and picked a selection of girls,” said Indi-Jay.

“We knew we were dancing on X Factor but we didn’t know who we were dancing behind – it was all top secret.

“When we found out it was Little Mix we were absolutely over the moon – we were buzzing, they’re such a big girl band.

“They were great with us when we there, they came out after the performance and said thanks to us all.”

The girls rehearsed for eight hours on Saturday alongside seasoned professionals and for 17-year-old Taylor Lynch, that was one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.

Taylor, from Upper Stratton, said: “I’ve been coming to Wilkes since I was 11, I know I want to have a career as a dancer but seeing the professionals just made me want it even more.

“Getting out in the big wide world with those guys was like a reality check – it made me realise that that’s what I need to be doing.

“I came in on Monday morning and was focused, I need to get there, there’s nothing else I’d rather do.”