EXCITEMENT is building among nine young dancers from Oxford who are set to represent England at the world Hip Hop dance championships.

The children, aged eight to 13, have been selected to perform as part of the 150-strong England squad at the International Dance Organisation World Hip Hop Championships in Bremen, Germany.

Each of the dancers will have to perform moves including the body pop, L shape and top rock in front of up to 7,000 spectators.

They have been training at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre and at home for months to get into shape for the prestigious finals, and on Wednesday will fly out to Germany for the five-day event.

Kelly Chandler, who teaches the children at KC's School of Dance, said: "I'm nervous and excited.

"When a lot of dance teachers see my dancers, they say their dance ability means they should really be dancing in the adult category, because they have outgrown their years in terms of dancing.

"They live and breathe dancing. They are passionate but their parents are passionate about it too and let them do what they need to do."

Ms Chandler took several of the nine performers to Germany last year where a team of her nine and 10-year-olds came sixth in the world in the junior group event.

Ms Chandler said: "I took the group in one day before they performed because it's such a big place. It's like an aircraft carrier.

"They went in and their jaws hit the floor. They didn't know what to say. They were overwhelmed by it all.

"I always say to them they are winners because they are in the England team. You try not to put any pressure on them but I would love to see them do better than they did last year."

While at the tournament the seven girls and two boys will perform solo and group routines.

They will compete against dancers from countries including the United States, France and Poland, and will be judged on their moves, overall look and personality.

Kada Marshall, ten, from Nowell Road, Rose Hill, who was named the eighth best hip hop dancer in her age group at the championships last year, said: "I'm even more excited about going the second time. I just remember getting there and being so excited I thought I was going to fall over.

"I cried when I saw how well I'd done. I love it. It's great that you get to mingle with lots of different people and do what you love."