A quickstepping schoolboy and his partner are dancing their way to Blackpool.At just 10-years old dancing champion Dale White has a reputation for being fast on his feet.

A quickstepping schoolboy and his partner are dancing their way to Blackpool.

At just 10-years old dancing champion Dale White has a reputation for being fast on his feet.

Despite going through a string of young female partners who struggled to keep up, Suffolk's own Billy Elliot has now found the right girl in 11-year-old Laura Grant from Biggin Hill in Kent.

They have been selected as part of the British juvenile Ballroom and Latin dance team to compete at the Blackpool Dance Festival For Juniors this Easter.

Dale was also chosen as captain and the pair will also represent Britain in a week-long contest in Shanghai, China in August.

Proud mum Michelle White, of Evabrook Close, Belstead Hills, Ipswich, said it was a great honour for her son, who hopes to forge a career in the performing arts.

She added: "He is really chuffed. He's wanted to represent his country for some time."

Dale and Laura were selected following the British Closed Competition in Blackpool in November when they scored highly in Ballroom and Latin events.

It is not all strictly ballroom for Gusford Primary School pupil Dale. He is currently waiting to hear whether he has passed the first round of interviews for the Royal Ballet School in Covent Garden.

Although Mrs White is pleased he is so keen and says she will support him "100% of the way" if he wins a place, she is anxious about losing her youngest son to London.

If the ballet school turns him down, he will start at Chantry High School, Ipswich in September and continue dance classes with Jeannette Gordon at the Jays School of Dancing in Boreham, near Chelmsford.

Although just 4ft 7½ ins tall, Dale has long been tipped for international fame.

He has already won dozens of dancing trophies, medals and titles from competitions in the UK, Italy and Barcelona. His next contest appearance is at the Celtic Classic in Tralee, Ireland, today which is open to couples from all over the world.

The future looks bright but the only slight hurdle is Laura's birthday in August, which will propel the couple into a higher age group, eight months before Dale would ordinarily have to move up.

"It's always been difficult for us to find the partners of the right age and height," said Mrs White.

"Dale now has to decide whether to go with her. He's no option really – she's a lovely girl and a very good dancer - but it's a shame it doesn't give him the full time to reach his potential."