Out of 18,000 entrants, and 3,000 finalists, eleven triumphant schoolgirls from Kent have returned from an international dance competition with a bronze medal.

The group, Viewpointe, who qualified for the Dance World Cup earlier this year, dazzled their way through elimination rounds and achieved the medal after raising over £9,000 to fund the trip.

All 11 girls attend Hillview School for Girls in Tonbridge and set up their own dance company so they could qualify to complete in the internationally renowned competition.

Lead by the school’s Head girl, 18-year-old Holly Thompson, they had no professional choreographers or sponsors, but still managed to succeed in the junior Contemporary section.

They worked tirelessly to fundraise and prepare, holding zumba classes, performing at the Royal Victoria hall and welcoming sponsorship all whilst studying for their GCSE’s and A levels.

Holly, of St Luke’s Road, said: “I never in a million years thought we would get to the competition, I don’t think anyone else did either. I didn’t find it too difficult balancing studies with my dancing as I’ve always had a very busy timetable.

“It was so surreal standing on stage in front of all those people, I was so overwhelmed when we won the medal.”

The event, held in Lagoa, Portugal, welcomed nearly 20,000 applications from competitors aged between four and 25-years-old.

Headteacher, John Whitley, said: “The girls did a fantastic job raising the money and they were competing in a major event so coming away with a bronze medal is amazing.”

Proud Mum and chaperone of the trip, Barbara Thompson said: “It was quite powerful to arrive at the competition and see people from all over the world, it really sunk in how well the girls had done to get there.”

Other dancers in the successful team are Holly’s sister, 16-year-old Katie Thompson, Isabella Baldock, Charlotte Foad, Charlotte Timbers, Abigail Manson-Smith, Kendra Colangelo, Sophie Preston, Neisha Gajjar, Molly Drop and Ellen Seamark.

Holly will be moving to study a BA Hons in Contemporary Dance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in Deptford this September.