Teen hopes to land top marks with dance skills

A SCHOOLGIRL is hoping to take home our £1000 Times Talent prize with her street dancing skills.

Arianna Fingland, 11, started dancing after her mum, Sarah, enrolled her into dance classes at just 14 months old.

Sarah said: “I had a friend that I used to dance with who opened a dance school and I thought it might be a good idea to bring Arianna along and teach her some discipline.

“She fit right in and after a few weeks copied everything the other girls were doing and was happy to do what the instructors wanted.

“I used to dance when I was younger but I never forced her to do the same.

“She just took to it.”

Arianna began in the class by being taught traditional dances such as ballet and tap, but soon discovered her love for street dancing.

Not only did Arianna, pictured, take to the dancefloor like a duck to water, but the classes also helped her to create life-long friendships. Sarah said: “She has made so many friends while doing her dancing, and she keeps in touch with people from all over that she has met at competitions not only her dance school.”

Arianna will also go up against her friends, brother and sister Olivia and Connor Layden, all of whom are members of the same dance school in Coatbridge.

Sarah said: “It was Arianna that came to me when she found Times Talent and told me she had a video that she wanted to submit, and then we found out that Olivia and Connor were also entering.

“There is a bit of friendly competition but the kids are good friends so it’s nothing serious, just a bit of fun for the kids to take part in.”

Arianna has missed seeing her friends over the past few months, and has had to make do with virtual dance sessions in the house.

Sarah said: “She has been doing Zoom dance classes and she dances in her own time but she has said to me that it just isn’t the same.

“Arianna’s dying to get back into her normal dancing classes and meet up with her friends again.

“She just loves to dance and enjoys meeting new people.”