A SCHOOL stage transformed into a melting pot of culture as hundreds of children performed high-energy dance routines in front of their peers.

Bollywood, country music and rock and roll all came to Woodford County High School, High Road, Woodford Green, for the annual Dance Festival.

More than 400 children from 20 school across Redbridge got in on the act, with performers free to choose their own theme for the routines.

Some performed cultural dances, introducing flavours from Africa and the Far East, while others opted to showcase street dance.

Rocking Six, a group from Glade Primary School, Atherton Road, Clayhall, danced to a song by rock and roll icon Eddie Cochran, with their own country twist.

At the end of last week’s festival – organised by the Caterham School Sports Partnership – sixth formers and partnership sports leaders taught the more than 400 children a dance routine, which was performed in unison in the main hall.

Performers at the festival ranged from four and five-year-olds to teenagers studying at secondary schools in the borough.

Each group – which had spent weeks rehearsing and fine-tuning their show-stopping routines – was asked to keep their performance no longer than three minutes.