Yahoo News Two Hull dancers chosen from hundreds of UK hopefuls to perform at Disney World
Two talented young dancers from Hull have been chosen by Disney to perform at its Florida theme parks.
India Blount and Amirah Storey are both aged 12 and attend the same dance school in Hull – UYDC Dance Studio. The girls were selected from a pool of 495 children, who auditioned across the UK for a chance to appear at Disney World, in Florida.
Out of the total, only 45 were chosen by the global entertainment company to strut their stuff across the pond in August 2025. India’s mum Alex Blount wanted to share the “extraordinary milestone” the two girls had achieved.
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She said: “Because of the secrecy around the project, I didn’t know who else had auditioned or got in,” said Alex, who lives near Pickering Road in west Hull. “India’s dance teacher told me and that Amirah, who is good friends with India, had also got a place.
“It’s very exciting. The day I found out I went and got balloons spelling USA and a Minnie and a Mickey Mouse, put them in our living room and told India: ‘I’ve got a surprise for you’.
“She said, ‘what’s this for? Have I got in?’ She is really chuffed with herself and very proud, but also very humble. She’s not the sort to go round broadcasting it.”
Alex said India, a pupil at Sirius West Academy in Hull, had done some dancing as a young child but was a budding gymnast before lockdown and in the development squad for Aspire in east Hull. “She wasn’t able to do anything because they put all the staff on furlough,” said her mum.
“She was used to doing ten or 11 hours a week and she was bored. I looked for any online sporting activities that were happening and came across UYDC.
“When everything reopened again, India had to decide between gymnastics and dance. UYDC give their students so many opportunities – they have been able to dance with Diversity and been part of Twist and Pulse.
“What is happening at Disney is very much under wraps at the moment and we’re all still a bit in the dark about what it entails, apart from the dates when they are going to be there. It’s such an amazing opportunity, and it’s the fact that Disney executives have chosen them themselves. India’s sister, Yasmin, who is 18, is so proud of her.”
Amirah, who lives off Priory Road in west Hull and attends Kelvin Hall School, was not even sure about auditioning, according to her proud mum, Katie Storey. “I just told her, well done for trying, and I was at work when the message came through – and I was gobsmacked.
“I started crying like some crazy parent down the phone to the school and said I needed to come in and see Amirah. She was as white as a sheet – I think she thought something had happened to a family member – I was just so excited to tell her.
“It’s great that they are the only northern girls to get through and this isn’t family and friends voting for them, it’s Disney! It shows what hard work and dedication can achieve and I think they can be an inspiration to other young people - it’s not just our two who can achieve this sort of thing.”
Katie said: “It’s a dream, a very proud moment for both India and Amirah who should be proud of themselves. I’m a single parent – I’ve brought up Amirah single-handedly from her being three months old – and she is achieving and I’ve helped to get her there.
“It is a lot of commitment from everyone. It can be long days and long nights, it’s five or six days a week of running around to dance classes.
“Faye [Lewis], her dance teacher, and Faye’s mum Anita give opportunities to their students that are second to none. They are fantastic role models.”
Katie said: “I’m hoping to get some fundraising going ahead of going to Florida, to afford it, but I’ve got a year. You have to make sacrifices so you can watch your children doing what they love.”
