Young Dancers Head to London’s O2 and Las Vegas After Golden Buzzer Win

Young dancers from Rebecca Stokes Dance Academy (RSDA) are preparing to swap the dance floor of their local village hall for the iconic O2 Arena in London and the bright lights of Las Vegas after winning the golden buzzer at The North and Midlands Regional Entertainment Awards (NREA) in Peterborough.

The talented dancers, aged between four and 12 years old, impressed the judges at the NREA, held at The Cresset Theatre, with their energetic modern dance to Meghan Trainor’s "Better When I’m Dancing." The golden buzzer victory means the RSDA dancers will now compete at the National Entertainment Awards on Sunday 12 October 2025, at the O2, where they’ll face off against other top dance groups from across the UK.

But that's not all – the RSDA dancers have also been invited to Las Vegas to compete at the 2026 National Entertainment Awards. This prestigious event is the entertainment industry’s answer to the Brit Awards, and the RSDA dancers are excited to represent their hometown of Leicester on both the national and international stage.

RSDA Principal Rebecca Stokes, affectionately known as Miss Becky, said: "We’ve only been together as a dance school since 2018, and for many of the girls, the NREA was their first-ever competition. They gave it their all, and I couldn’t be prouder. Winning the golden buzzer was an incredible moment and a testament to how hard the girls have worked. We were thrilled to be heading to the O2 and showcase our incredible talents. To now get the chance to dance on the international stage, in Las Vegas is what dreams are made of."

She added, "These competitions are not just about Rebecca Stokes Dance Academy or our small village; we’ll be representing Leicester on both the national and international stage. However, when you factor in the costs of costumes, travel, accommodation, and everything else needed to look the part, it’s an expensive journey for these young dancers. We would be so grateful for any support from local businesses and individuals in Leicester to help us make this dream a reality."

Janet Younger, mum to one of the youngest dancers competing for RSDA, said: "Our daughter absolutely loves dancing with RSDA, and she’s beyond excited to perform at both the O2 and in Las Vegas with her friends. The dancer from Rebecca Stokes Dance Academy and Miss Becky are like one big family, and we can’t wait to see them take the stage, representing not only RSDA but also Leicester."

To help fund the trip, RSDA has set up a GoFundMe page with a target of £5,000 to cover travel, accommodation, and costume expenses.