A group of west Cumbrian dancers have been selected to perform at a Broadway theatre.

Thirty-four dancers from Cowper School of Dance will head to the US in October to take the stage at the New York Town Hall Theatre.

Adrienne Kelly, principal at the school, said: "It's the first time we'll go to America, it's such an exciting opportunity, it's fantastic.

"It will be an amazing thing to show for these girls when they will be looking for work, as it's not all about academic skills, it's also about what they have achieved outside school. It's a life changing experience."

The dancers, aged 14 and over, will perform for about 20 minutes at the show on October 25 and will perform extracts from Step In Time and Riverdance among others, with a mixture of lyrical, tap and pointe dancing.

Adrienne added: "Last year I was contacted by Smile Productions asking if we wanted to apply to perform in New York and I sent a video of the girls performing Step In Time from Mary Poppins.

"They got back in touch to say we had been selected. I hadn't told the girls I had put us forward, so when I announced it to them they were all cheering and jumping up and down.

"We performed at the London Palladium three years ago, but this will top it."

Friends Of Cowper School Of Dance are organising a fundraising event to raise money for new uniforms for the dancers.

The event will take place on May 20 at Workington's Masonic Hall, with a live auction and entertainment.

Cowper School Of Dance was founded in 1871 in Workington.

Adrienne said: "It was founded by my great-grandfather Oliver Cowper and it's a family run school.

"I've danced since I was three and I took over a good few years ago from my mother Marion."

The school has a studio on Cross Street, Whitehaven, and also holds classes at St James's Community Centre in the town and at the Carnegie Theatre in Workington.

Dancers from Workington, Whitehaven, Millom, Egremont, Keswick and Cockermouth attend the school.