Dance Beats Cancer returned to the Lifecentre, Bournemouth, for its fifth year.

The evening of dance performance was its most successful yet with a packed auditorium.

A total of £1,500 was raised for local charity Youth Cancer Trust.

This year’s show welcomed many new acts to the stage while also featuring plenty of returning friends.

Dance Beats Cancer aims to provide opportunities for new dancers just starting out and to share the stage with experienced and professional dancers.

All levels of experience, all ages and all dance genres are welcome for the inclusive event.

Wendy Parrott, Show Co-ordinator from Youth Cancer Trust, said: “It’s always a busy, lively evening that has its own special kind of magic.

“Everyone is cheered and celebrated.

“It’s performance from the heart through a shared love of dance expression.

“Our events are deeply rooted in community and bringing people together, in the same way that we do at Youth Cancer Trust.

“Together we raise each other up.’

The show included a tribute to Affolake Lewis, a well-respected local dance teacher, who sadly passed away recently, following her own cancer journey.

Her life was celebrated in a moving but uplifting dance piece created by Legacy.

Eleven times world street dance champion, Toby Stannard, headlined the show to enthusiastic cheers from the audience and much excitement from fellow performers.

The DBC team has thanked everyone that performed, volunteered or supported the event describing it as: “a breath-taking evening by incredibly talented dancers.”

Special thanks have gone to ten-year-old soloist Sienna Morgan who made time to travel down from Wales to perform despite a busy rehearsal schedule.

Following the show, she performed with Notorious as a semi-finalist on Britain’s Got Talent.

The Dance Beats Cancer community has been building since 2017 when the team released an award-winning piece of dance for film.

The project was a collaboration between Youth Cancer Trust and Fraser Freeze with Ego Media, MBN Arts, Ashley Knight and hundreds of local and professional performers.

The film can be viewed at youtu.be/MTgLT8869hc

• To find out more about Dance Beats Cancer or Youth Cancer Trust please contact wendy@yct.org.uk

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Gallery – Dance Beats Cancer – pictures by Libby Bingham and Lucy Vogt.