Eltham schoolgirl wows judges with TV dance performance (From News Shopper)

Eltham schoolgirl wows judges with TV dance performance

10:35am Wednesday 9th January 2013 in News By Sam Christie

A TEN-YEAR-OLD hip-hop champion from Bexley is a step closer to winning £250,000 after starring on national TV.

Talented Portia Oti, of Murchison Avenue, near Bexley Woods, wowed the panel of judges on Sky One’s Got to Dance.

The Year 6 pupil at Eltham C of E Primary School has already been crowned national and European U-12 hip-hop champion – despite only competing for nine months.

And Portia’s 90-second freestyle routine screened on Sunday evening impressed the judging trio of JLS superstar Aston Merrygold, former Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt and street dancer Ashley Banjo at The Dome in Clapham Common.

Her proud mother Eloise, 35, who waited anxiously backstage during Portia’s performance, said: “She was really nervous beforehand but went out there and gave it her all. It was amazing.

“My heart was racing and when the judges showed the three stars it was brilliant. She burst into tears.

“When Ashley said she was brilliant, I fell to the ground. He’s a real hero of Portia’s, because she loves street dancing.”

Stunned Ashley, who shot to fame as part of street dancing group Diversity on Britain’s Got Talent in 2010 , hailed Portia as “special”.

He said: “You’re literally bursting at the seams with talent, and you’re only 10.”

Portia told News Shopper: “I really enjoyed it and I got really good comments so I’m really pleased.”

It has been a whirlwind past nine months for Portia who was crowned Britain’s first-ever junior European hip-hop champion in July last year.

She trains up to twice a week at the Class School of Dance in Orpington and hopes one day to open a dance school of her own.

The youngest of three girls must wait until February 3 to discover if she is through to the final 30, who will then compete across five live shows.

Her mum Eloise added: “It’s been a bit of a power rush for her. But she’s only 10-year-old and no matter what happens it’s been a really good experience.”