Can you Dare 2 Dream of a dance challenge?

This dance contest, open to anyone from five to 25 at the Palace Theatre, Westcliff, from 7pm

is taking place in partnership with Southend's innovative Dare 2 Dream (D2D) project, to boost the aspirations of young people.  

The scheme identifies role models who can inspire others. Three new role models will be chosen from the participants of Sunday's Dance Challenge Southend Competition.  

The dance challenge is a fun-packed event for beginners and advanced dancers, and is a national search to find the best local dance team. Those who win this local heat can go forward to the London finals for a chance to win amazing awards and £500 worth of dance training  

Dare 2 Dream is a Southend Children's Partnership initiative, launched in April 2009, to raise the aspirations of children and young people, their families and carers. This includes profiling children and young people whose stories can inspire others as role models.

Since it began Dare 2 Dream has gained a substantial "wall of fame" of achievement and inspiration giving terrific examples for other young people to follow.

Anyone who would like to take part in the dance challenge, and who has not yet registered, can visit http://www.dancechallenge.co.uk/ or call 0845 539 0014. There is a fee for teams taking part. 

The three categories of entry are primary (aged five to 12); secondary (aged 12 to 16) and community groups, (five to 25 years old: dance schools and community groups.)  

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Children and Learning, Councillor Mark Flewitt said: "We aim to find a role model from each of these three categories. Those chosen will be announced at a future event. 

"Dare 2 Dream is a project which has really caught peoples' imaginations. It celebrates real life examples of young people who are truly an inspiration to others. 

"We are very pleased to be able to promote this project further by teaming up with the hugely popular dance challenge event."