Notre Dame dancers take to the stage at Sadler’s Wells

"Step LIVE! 2013 was a joy!" said Sue Goodman, Step into Dance programme and artistic director.

"Our dancers pulled out all the stops and really filled the stage with their energy. All the ups and downs of the rehearsal process finally came together. I am really proud of them all."

Step into Dance is the largest community dance programme in the UK, operating in mainstream state secondary schools, special educational needs schools and pupil referral units. The programme is a partnership between the Jack Petchey Foundation and the Royal Academy of Dance.

The colourful extravaganza featured performances from 25 school dance groups who were carefully selected to participate in the event, following a two month series of local Step into Dance borough events.

Special guests Jack Petchey, Kirsty Swain (Step into Dance special educational needs patron), Kerry Rubie (chairman of the board of trustees, Royal Academy of Dance) and the Mayors of Haringey, Barnet, Brent, Camden and Lambeth were dazzled by energy-fuelled performances, as they took front row seats to watch the dancers in action.

Dance styles included contemporary, street, Bollywood and musical theatre.

Jack Petchey CBE said: "The talent was amazing [and] the way the young people expressed themselves through dance really inspired me and I am sure that those youngsters will know what it's like to feel alive inside.

"It shows what can be achieved if you believe that you can do it and you have someone helping you to unleash that potential."