Rory O'Shea is battling to win Sky One's Got to Dance

by Charles Precious

A dancing sensation who goes to school in Canterbury is through to the final of a hit TV talent contest.

Eleven-year-old Rory O'Shea, a pupil at Canterbury Academy, has made it through to the last stage of Sky1's Got to Dance – with the winner set to pick up £250,000.

He appeared on the live show last night after being busy perfecting his routine at the Horsebridge centre in Whitstable.

Rory, who started dancing three years ago, said: “I try to practise every day in my bedroom and whenever I can get to the dance studios at the Horsebridge centre.”

Rory learnt to dance by copying moves from a DVD his dad bought for him. He attends classes at a Herne Bay dance school and trains once a week with a team at Whitstable Gymnastics Club.

He has picked up more than 100 trophies and recently came first in his category at the world championships in Germany.

"i try to practise every day in my bedroom and whenever i can get to the dance studios" – rory o'shea

In his first appearance on Got to Dance at the beginning of January he received three gold stars from judges Aston Merrygold, Kimberley Wyatt and Ashley Banjo.

Kimberley, who used to be in girl group The Pussycat Dolls, told him: “You have so much confidence when you come on stage and you’re so humble. You can tell this means so much to you. It’s so endearing and when you dance you come to life. You have got to dance. It’s something that you have to do.”

Ashley, who won Britain’s Got Talent with his dance group Diversity, added: “If I were to open up a dictionary and look up ‘talent’, there would be a little picture of you.

“That for me was a perfect audition. You are humble yet confident; you had tricks and you had dance ability.”

Rory, of Tradewinds, Whitstable, said afterwards: “I was in pure shock. It made me very happy to hear that.”

His performance on Sunday included popping, locking, hip-hop and his favourite breakdancing.

He said: “It’s like a show not a routine, and much more fun for my fans.”