TEN Christchurch schools took to the stage for a dance festival at the Regent Centre.

Family and friends watched on as the children used dance to explore different countries and cultures on Thursday (JUN 22).

At the annual dance festival, the children were inspired by music from all over the world. Dances were performed to music such as Jai Ho, the Pink Panther and Africa.

This is the third time this event has taken place, with 300 children taking part.

One of the event's organisers, Mrs Battrick-Mantell, said: "It's so brilliant because what happens is we go into every primary school and we deliver a workshop. They tell us the kind of theme they picked and myself and some of the older Grange students go into primary schools and then we deliver a workshop, we create some movement with them and they have a few weeks to build on that.

"Today's fantastic because we get to see each final performance and how they've used the music, added costume and taken the theme on. It's absolutely brilliant and what's so lovely to see is students experiencing being on a big, professional stage for the first time with lights. For some of the little ones it can be quite daunting but after they've got up there and they've done the performance they're absolutely beaming. It's really good."

Mrs Battrick-Mantell worked alongside Dan Moody to make the event happen. The festival is run by the Christchurch School Sports Partnership and The Grange School.

The Grange School also took part in the festival, alongside Burton Primary, Somerford, Christchurch Infant, Highcliffe St Marks, St Josephs, Mudeford Infant, Mudeford Junior, Christchurch Junior and Twynham Primary.