A DANCE school with almost 300 young recruits, is celebrating after picking up armfuls of trophies across the country and beyond.

Dance Connection, which is based at Oxford Stadium in Sandy Lane West, has bagged 11 national titles in the past six months at such glittering competitions as Destination Dance and the British Dance Cup, with the most recent taking place last weekend at the grand final of national tour Dance Inspirations in Blackpool.

The team from the Blackbird Leys-based group came third overall, bagging the top titles for both costumes and choreography, with 13-year-old Astrid Tozer named the 'dancer with the most potential'.

Sam Clifton, from Woodcote, south Oxfordshire, has run the school for the past 22 years. She said: "It was a really good event. The confidence these young children have is fantastic to see."

Some 275 young people from all over Oxfordshire and further afield attend Dance Connections, which has just five staff members and runs classes six days a week.

Over the years, hundreds have been coached for exams by the school, which to this day boasts a 100 per cent pass rate and at which 90 per cent of results have been distinctions.

Mrs Clifton, a former professional, said: "We also have two students who are part of the Tap Attack England team, who won world titles in Germany.

"The secret is good staff. It's really satisfying, a lifestyle rather than a job, and the young people have made incredible friendships over the years.

"They start with us when they are three and a lot of them stay until they are 18, and then don't want to leave. Some graduated 10 years ago and still stay in touch."

But she said despite its glittering record and international prestige Dance Connection would stay at Oxford Stadium for the foreseeable future.

Since its closure in 2012, the future of the former greyhound stadium has been uncertain.

Mrs Clifton said: "It's a bit of a risk for us but we decided to stay. We have four studios under one roof and you don't find that in many other places.

"We can have them after school and they can study and do homework alongside their dancing, and we have found we can get in some really good tutors from across the UK because of the facilities. For us it's massively important."

For more information on Dance Connection or to inquire about joining visit dance-connection.co.uk