AFTER more than 30 years of teaching dance to the children of Bradford and beyond Stephanie Clements is looking forward to the performance of a lifetime.

On the afternoon of April 16, 65 of her pupils who attend the dance sessions she holds in the city and other areas including Menston, Guiseley, Eldwick and Clifford under the umbrella of Bradford Theatre Arts, will take to the stage with the Grammy-award winning pop star Foxes to entertain the crowds at the start of the Saracens, rugby union champions, clash against Harlequins at the iconic Wembley Stadium.

Previously attracting world record crowds in 2012, 2014 and in 2015 when over 84,000 people attended the game, it is believed to be the biggest club match in world rugby and Bradford can be proud that youngsters from here and the surrounding area are at the centre of the action.

The youngsters, who are aged between eight and 20, will perform the routine they are busy learning which has been produced by Pro-Excel, an organisation which have been specialising in producing mass-movement dance shows at the country's most high profile sporting events for the last 15 years and continues to offer unique opportunities to dance schools and secondary schools across the UK.

Participating in such a high profile performance is something the children are all looking forward to.

Stephanie, an ex-professional dancer who worked as a Pontins Blue Coat and also danced on cruise ships, explains how she decided to put her pupils forward after spotting an appeal through the dance teachers hub.

After learning they had been selected in July last year, Stephanie and her pupils have been working hard to master the fast-paced routine they will have to perform.

"I am blown away by them because I have children in there who are autistic and they are doing it," says Stephanie, whose grandson is also autistic.

Through her own experience of previously working with children with learning difficulties, Stephanie is aware of the many benefits music and dance can bring and has seen the results first-hand.

"They just need dance, the music starts and, like my Grandson, he doesn't speak but as soon as we hear music we are dancing, we are just going with the flow. He just joins in and he is only three," explains Stephanie.

As well as being watched by a capacity crowd in the stadium, the match will also be televised so the children are conscious all eyes will be on them.

But, according to Stephanie, they aren't phased by it at all. "They'll just do it. They are very very excited."

She says during rehearsals they have been concentrating on learning their routine. "We didn't hear a pin-drop, they have been listening all the time learning it and doing it."

Stephanie says being part of the group participating in the performance is an achievement for them. "They can do this and they are out there doing it and they will smile because it's such good fun."

Matt O'Reilly, who runs Pro-Excel with his brother Liam, explains his brother started the organisation more than 15 years ago. Since then they have worked with many dance schools and secondary schools.

He says the Wembley project is their flagship event involving more than 1,000 students from 18 UK dance schools who are performing around the pitch in front of a crowd of between 80,000 to 90,000 and with a Grammy-award winning singer.

"It is a phenomenal experience for them," says Matt.

"It is about enriching and giving young people wonderful opportunities to do something that could potentially change their lives and that is what this event does for many of these children."

Matt says the event benefits many children in different ways. "Our organisation is very educational and it is all about enrichment and aspiration.

"It is about the young people that are performing and the experience and value that they get from a Pro-Excel project and that is the most important thing to us," concludes Matt.

Any schools wanting to be considered for the 2017 programme of events at Wembley Stadium, Old Trafford, Twickenham Stadium and other stadium dance projects can call +44 (0)7535 938222; email matt@pro-excel.co.uk or visit facebook.com/groups/proexcel2002.