Dancer, 12, celebrates double world championship win
A 12-year-old girl says it was "mind-blowing" to walk away from a dance competition as a double world champion.
Isla, from Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset, competed at the World Freestyle Championships at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on 28 and 29 June.
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She entered the freestyle solo and slow dance categories, facing up to 60 dancers from countries including South Africa, Ireland and Norway.
Isla, who trains at Dynamics School of Dance in Bristol, said: "It's like living in a dream."
Isla's mother said her daughter's achievement at this age was "crazy" [Family handout]
Isla's mother Fiona said she was "absolutely shocked" by the result, especially as her daughter had only recently taken up dance.
"To achieve something like this, being so young, is crazy," she said.
Fiona said her daughter was so nervous after a win on the Saturday of the competition as she waited to compete in a final the next day.
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"She told me she couldn't feel her legs… and slipped on her opening move... so to win from that, we just weren't expecting it at all," she added.
Isla said winning both titles feels like she is "living in a dream" [Family handout]
Emma Mounter, head of Dynamics School of Dance, said: "Everyone at the dance school is just super proud.
"She's extremely hard working and anything we throw at her, she takes on the chin and works exceptionally hard."
Isla said she was grateful to her dance teachers Ms Mounter and Maizie Rugman, and her sponsor Alex Weston "for everything they have done to help me achieve this".
Her mother said she was not sure when it would sink in but "we can't wait to see what's ahead for Isla".
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