DANCER Sam Hughes is a step closer to his West End dream after landing a place on an Associate Programme with tap dancing company, Tap Attack.

The 14-year-old started dancing at two-and-a-half at Dansworks Dance Academy of Performing Arts.

His mum Helen said: “From the age of five to seven he would choreograph and write out dance routines, which he would then perform.”

He was initially just doing tap and ballet and then decided to join a different dance school and tried cheerleading before at nine he returned to Dansworks, and the studios in Bacup have now become his second home.

Sam, a student at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, has dance lessons in tap, ballet, musical theatre, contemporary dance, modern jazz and drama and loves taking part in the shows and competitions.

He first auditioned for Halifax-based Tap Attack, two years ago but didn’t get through.

Sam said: “Tap has always been the style I like best. At the audition this time I was quite nervous when I went into the room, but as soon as the teacher started talking I thought, ‘I could do this’."

He is now looking forward to joining Tap Attack at a two-day Workshop in Swindon and hopes to get picked for the team that will compete in the Tap Dancing World Championships.

He added: "I will be learning American style Street Tap which is less traditional and is very rhythmical. I would love to perform in bigger theatres and with large companies.

"Gemma Nuttall has recently been my tap dancing teacher at Dansworks. She has been amazing, she has inspired me she understands what I want to do and she has helped me to get where I have today.”

Dansworks Principal Karen Roe said: “We are so proud of Sam, he has always had a passion for dance but the last two years he has worked so hard and has been so determined to get to the level he needed to be at.

“His improvement in all his dance styles this year has been phenomenal – attaining 96 per cent in his most recent Dance Exam - and he thoroughly deserves his place on the Tap Attack Associate Programme.”