A PIONEERING dance group is one of a dozen set to perform in a national event at the Birmingham Hippodrome.

Anjali’s Youth Dance Company pipped hundreds of other groups to the post to secure a spot at the U Dance showcase on July 4.

The Banbury-based group, whose members all have learning disabilities, won the regional final at the South East selection, in Brighton, in February.

Now the eight-strong dance group, based at the Mill Arts Centre in Banbury, is back in rehearsals gearing up to perform in front of up to 1,850 people at the Birmingham venue.

Anjali’s general manager Roger Farrell said: “The Anjali Youth Dance Company has performed on numerous occasions in platforms where they are the only group of dancers with disabilities.

“They get a tremendous reception from the other young people and the organisers always comment on how professional and accomplished our dancers are.”

Artistic director Nicole Thomson said: “We are so proud of our young dancers.

“Their dedication, commitment and hard work has paid off.

“This is a very prestigious event and our youth dance company has made it into a programme of just 12 finalists selected from every English region.

“Promoting dance for young people with learning disabilities has always been important to Anjali and this will give a great boost to every person with a learning disability under eighteen who wants to achieve something worthwhile.”

The group won their place performing a piece to traditional Japanese Minyo music, played live on Japanese folk instruments.

Called The Waves from Okinawa it was the first piece resident dance artist Aya Kobayashi had created for the group.

The Anjali Youth Dance Company started in 2007 and provides professional standard training and performance opportunities to talented dancers aged 13 to 21 from throughout Oxfordshire.

It is funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Arts Council England, Cherwell District Council, and Oxfordshire County Council.