David Hasselhoff dancer Leon set to compete in World Cup

Eleven-year-old Leon Hughes, who has been dancing since he was five, will represent Scotland at the championships with fellow team mates from G12 Dance Studio in the west end of Glasgow. This will be the first time in 15 year’s that a squad from Scotland has qualified for the tough championships which are held in a different country each year.

Leon’s mum Alanna said her son - the oldest of four - just lights up when he is on stage and has danced with the likes of David Hasselhoff in a pantomime last Christmas and The Krankies.

Alanna (35), who trained with Scottish Ballet when she was younger, said: “Leon loves dancing and a lot of people say he could be the next Billy Elliot and go far. He has been at G12 Dance Studio for the past six years. We are just happy that he enjoys it so much.”

His favourite style of dancing, according to Alanna, is hip-hop because it is very fast - but she said he enjoys most dance styles.

She added: “At Christmas he was one of the ‘lost boys’ in the pantomime Peter Pan staring David Hasselhoff which was on at the Hydro. He has also appeared with the Krankies and met comedian Frankie Boyle.

At the world championships Leon will be competing in the dance, duet, hip-hop and modern dance styles.

Alanna continued, “We are all very proud of him and want to support him as much as we can. I’ll be going to the championships with him and we all hope he comes back with a medal.”

The World Dance Championships start on June 25, and are expected to attracts over 12,000 competitors from 38 countries competing over a week.

It is billed as the greatest all-genre dance competition on the planet for children and young adults.