A LARGS girl who has been dancing since the age of two has reached the final of two major dance events - and she is looking for the public's help to get her there.
With a love for dancing in her blood, Iona Bulloch started dance lessons at three years old, and joined Karen Aitchison's School of Dance a couple of years later.
Now aged 11, Iona currently takes part in classes in ballet, tap and jazz at the school at St Columba's Parish Church.
The Largs Primary pupil is also part of the accredited Starting Pointe Ballet's Young Artist Development Programme, and attends monthly dance workshops in Stirling.
Not only has Iona qualified, with three of her friends, for the Global Dance Open world final, taking place in Apeldoorn in the Netherlands, but the talented youngster has also earned the right to compete at the Dance World Cup in Prague.
Her proud mum Emma said: "Both her auntie and I danced when we were younger at own local dance school. My sister went on get her qualifications to become a dance teacher. It certainly is in our blood.
"Once a month they come together with Starting Pointe Ballet and they do a day of dance.
"Part of their ethos is to have safe dance practices and let the students have opportunities to perform, so that is why they took part in the competitions.
"We travelled to Broughty Ferry to qualify for the Global Dance Open, whereas for the Dance World Cup qualifier we sent in video footage of their routines. We were over the moon to know that Iona and her friends qualified.
"She is really excited and thrilled to do something she loves whilst going to see these new places. She is fairly used to competing because she does ice skating with Magnum Figure Skating Club which has massively helped her confidence."
A fundraiser has been set-up to help ease the financial costs of getting the dancers over to the competitions along with the expenses of their kit and accommodation.
Now they are asking for support from the Largs community to help raise £4,500, so the girls can pursue their dream and compete in the finals of the 'Olympics of Dance'.
"My husband and I are so incredibly proud of her," Emma added.
"She goes on stage and her confidence just shines out of her. We can't believe that she just gets out there on the stage, completely by herself, in front of the other competitors and the judges.
"The fund-raiser has been set up to ensure that the students get to take part in these competitions without worrying about it and not impacting on their own finances.
"I think it is really important to support local talent. A lot of sports gets their fair share of media coverage, but I don't think dance gets that recognition its deserves.
"If there is somebody from our town who brings that positive awareness I think it is important to be by their side, and I really hope Largs can do that for Iona."
To donate to help Iona's visit the family's JustGiving page at tinyurl.com/Iona-Bulloch.
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