DANCER REBECCA IS READY TO SHINE IN THE USA
Teen off to Florida to represent Scots
A Cambuslang teenager has reason to cheer after being selected to represent her country on the world stage.
Fifteen-year-old Rebecca Mason has been selected for the Scottish squad heading to The Dance World Championships in Florida next year.
The Cathkin High pupil and her squad will take part in the pom dance event, which is similar to cheerleading except using pom poms.
Teams from over 40 countries will be competing at Orlando in the event.
And Rebecca’s proud mum Jeanette revealed she might not have been there if it had not been for her local newspaper. She explained: “She’s been cheerleading for almost 11 years. I saw an advertisement in the Rutherglen Reformer for a group and took her along. She really enjoyed it.
“She was only four years old at the time, she was still at nursery.
“I think she enjoys the exercise part of it and also the teamwork aspect, but she also just loves competing.
“Watching her dance, I’ve had people say they couldn’t take their eyes off her and that her technique is very, very good. I don’t know where she gets it from!”
A former pupil at Hallside Primary, Rebecca started off at SLC All Stars in Rutherglen before joining the Electric Candy club in East Kilbride.
Her coach, Nicola Hamilton, encouraged the girls to go to the Team Scotland trials. Rebecca spent four hours trying out and it proved worthwhile when she got the news that she had been selected.
Jeanette said: “She’s very, very excited.
“The email was actually to myself and Rebecca was in bed at the time.
“I just ran upstairs to tell her. There was a lot of tears and laughter.
“Her first training session is this Sunday.
“We are all so proud of her, her family and her coach.”
Despite only being 15, Rebecca is in the Scotland squad with other girls aged up to 20.
But Jeanette has no doubts she can cope and added: “She can hold her own, that’s for sure.”
I have had people say that they can’t take their eyes off her