WHO hasn’t watched former Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity perform and thought “I wish I could dance like that”?

Well a group of Dorset youngsters had the chance to do just that when they were invited to take part in an exclusive workshop at the dance troupe’s private studio.

More than 50 members of Verwood-based Storm Dance Crew travelled to Essex after being invited by Diversity, who had heard about the street dance group by word of mouth.

Storm was one of a handful of troupes around the country selected for the one-to-one training session with Diversity’s founder and choreographer Ashley Banjo and group member Perri Luc Kiely (the one with the hair!).

“It was at Diversity’s private dance studio in Essex which is where they started off before they were famous,” said Kerri Faulkner, who runs Storm Dance Crew and Storm Stage School.

“About five of the other members of the group were there, but Ashley and Perri were the two main teachers. We learnt loads of new choreography moves.

“They are a lovely group of teachers and made us feel really welcome. It was like working with a bunch of friends. It was a fantastic opportunity.”

Kerri said she wouldn’t be copying the routines for future Storm performances, but admitted she may incorporate a few of the moves learnt by the group.

“I’d feel bad nicking the choreography,” said the 26-year-old.“We wouldn’t take the whole piece, but maybe just incorporate it into something else.”

In fact, having some choreography there for the taking may just come in handy for Storm, with the troupe becoming increasingly in demand.

A number of the school’s students have just filmed an advert for Portsmouth University which will be shown in cinemas from the end of the month.

Another member recently made it down to the last three for Billy Elliot auditions in the West End and the troupe also auditioned for TV’s Got To Dance although they got knocked out before the TV stage.

Storm has also been named United Dance Organisation Under 12 Street Champions for the Reading/London area and will now take part in a national competition in Liverpool.

“We also recently danced at the hip-hop championships in Bournemouth where we performed with some well-known street dance, hip-hop artists,” added Kerri.

“And I have re-written Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to a fresh vibe, it’s got a new feel to it with street dance. While we were at the hip-hop championships, Ian Abbott from Pavilion Dance and Dance South West, said they would love to work with me to make it into a big production at the Pavilion in July.”

The run of achievements is hugely satisfying for Kerri, who has only been running Storm for the last four or five years, after taking it over from her mum, who, in turn, took it over from Kerri’s grandmother.

Originally called Verwood Academy of Dance, the school was first set up 30 years ago when Kerri’s grandmother moved to the area from London.

“It was very ballet-orientated then,” said Kerri.“My mum brought in the contemporary element because that was what she was into and when I took it over I brought in the street dance bit.

“I’m just hoping all this is going to show people what we do, and that we are a fun and friendly team with really good teachers.”

Kerri herself also has a wealth of experience behind her. Having completed her BTEC National Diploma at Bournemouth and Poole College she also undertook Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing training and even auditioned for the Royal Ballet.

“I couldn’t go because I hurt my back,” she explained.

“I thought was it worth pushing myself and getting injured, or should I go into teaching? I thought ‘do you know what, I’m going to give my skills to someone else.”