SCHOOLCHILDREN were strictly coming dancing when they attended a dance class with a special guest teacher.

TV dance star Brendan Cole dropped in to a summer holiday workshop to show them how it was done.

The Strictly Come Dancing professional, who has partnered the likes of Natasha Kaplinsky, Kelly Brook and Lulu during 11 series of the show, visited RGS Worcester yesterday to talk to children taking part in the independent school’s Brendan Cole Performing Arts Academy and gave them a few hints and tips in their bid to emulate his fancy feet.

Brendan, a ballroom dancer who specialises in Latin American dancing, gave the children a mini-dance coaching session and talked to them about improving their technique to become better dancers.

And he said the classes gave young people the chance to do something out of the ordinary.

“Dance and drama provide children with a chance to do something different, outside of the mainstream,” he said.

“It is great for growing confidence and can offer children a real pathway for a future in the performing arts.”

He also spoke to the children, who were taking part in the summer club which was brought to the school by Activate Sport and lead by a team of professional dance instructors, about putting all their energy and emotion into their dancing in the same way they might do when acting in a drama.

He encouraged them to made their dance a 3D performance creating a positive excitement around what they are doing.

The holiday club also gave children the chance to sharpen up or learn new skills in singing, acting, music and film making to make them all round performers.

“The inspiration behind my academy is so much more than teaching kids to perform,” he added.

“It’s the opportunity to share what I experienced throughout my childhood and something I am very excited about doing.”

Brendan, dubbed by some as the ‘bad boy of ballroom’, will be touring the UK next year with his fantastic fourth theatre tour, Licence To Thrill.

For more information about the show, log on to brendancole.com.

For more information about RGS Worcester’s summer holiday programme, visit grange.rgsw.org.uk/holiday-club.