Talented Tom is streets ahead of dance rivals

4:00pm Thursday 28th August 2008

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A TALENTED Stretford teenager was thrilled to be announced as the winner of an international dance competition.

Fourteen-year-old Tom Malone, from Rossall Avenue, beat around 1,500 rivals to the title of World Street Dance Champion.

Tom, who goes to Knutsford High, said: "It felt amazing to win, I worked really hard for it, anything between six and 20 hours a week. I enjoyed the whole experience. I’m going to carry on working hard and training to get to more competitions in future.”

Mum Julie explained that when Tom, pictured right, is not training at the Sunshine Studios on Newton Street, Manchester, he can be found pulling punches at Clayton's Northside ABC boxing gym.

She said: “During the holidays Tom goes out to the studio in the morning and doesn’t get back until 9pm. He practises every spare minute and he’d sleep there if they’d let him! I’m so proud of him.”

Tom gained first place in the advanced under-16 section before competing with the other finalists, some of whom were aged over 18, to bag the overall title, judged by top choreographers and dancers such as Patrick Alan, Sisco Gomez and Jay Ravell, who have worked with stars including Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson.

Participants from as far afield as Belgium, Portugal, France and Germany came to compete.

Tom began tap, ballet and modern dance lessons aged six and has numerous wins under his belt including the Southern, Welsh and North West championships.

He won £1,000 following the two-day street dance contest, organised by the United Dance Organisation and held in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens.

The teenager is now looking forward to appearing in a short film called ‘Five Miles Out’ in which he plays the lead with Golden Compass actress Dakota Blue Richards, which is due to air on Channel 4 this autumn.