A DANCE sensation from Deeside is celebrating his success on a new television show.

Harry Smallman, 17, from Connah’s Quay, is taking part in the BBC’s The Greatest Dancer with dance partner Eleiyah Navis and the pair got the highest spectator vote on Saturday’s first live show.

The dance talent show sees dancers of any age and dance style compete to win £50,000 and a chance to perform on Strictly Come Dancing.

Judges on the show include former Girls Aloud member and X Factor judge Cheryl [Fernandez-Versini], Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse and Matthew Morrison, from the Golden Globe-winning musical series Glee.

Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon is one of the show hosts.

Harry started dancing at Elsberdance in Buckley and has previously won Mold’s Time2Shine competition with his performance of I have nothing by Whitney Houston and is also a dance world champion.

Proud mum Claire Smallman said: “It was an amazing performance from them.

“We’d just like to thank those who voted for them because it means so much for Harry and Eleiyah, 18.

“If everyone could keep voting, especially people from the locality, that’d be amazing as he is flying the flag for Flintshire.”

Harry told the Leader: “It has been an exciting experience. It’s overwhelming because it all happened so quickly.

“It’s really exciting and we are very grateful for the experience and support from everyone.

“I used to try different sports like football when I was younger but I never enjoyed it that much so my mum took me to dance class and from then that’s all I ever wanted to do. At first it was about singing and it escalated to dance.”

And on the first live show, not only did Harry and Eleiyah - the pair are described as being from Liverpool - safely make it through to the next week, they received the highest number of ‘Best Dancers’ votes from the 1,500 spectators in attendance, getting 96 per cent of their votes.

Also appearing on the show is Maddy Spencer, from Mold, who is a member of the Dane Bates Collective contemporary jazz dance group.

Like Harry, Maddy has also won the Mold’s Time2Shine competition.