Dream comes true as gifted teen performs in semi final of BBC's The Greatest Dancer

Iffan Roberts, from Rudheath, will be performing in the live semi final of The Greatest Dancer on BBC1 at 6.30pm tomorrow, Saturday.

The 18-year-old is part of contemporary dance group The Brothers of Dance who wowed the audience with a 97.8 per cent vote for their first performance, the show's highest ever score.

The nine-strong group stepped back to the early 1900s and staged a stunning routine to the theme of the hit show Peaky Blinders.

"Performing on the first live show was very nerve racking but such a surreal moment," said Iffan, who graduated from LIPA Sixth Form College last year.

"To be in the semi finals is such an amazing achievement for us all. Although we all believed in our skills together being here now is unbelievable and a dream come true.

"To win The Greatest Dancer would mean the world to me as it would be such a relief for all the hard work we put in not just for the show but before this too, from all the hard training and practising to become better dancers."

The group won a standing ovation from the audience and judges when they auditioned.

They are now one of just one remaining six acts hoping to make it to the final.

Winner of the programme, presented by Alesha Dixon and Jordan Banjo, will receive £50,000 and will perform on Strictly Come Dancing when it returns to the screens later this year.

Jordan Banjo and Alesha Dixon present The Greatest Dancer Picture: BBC

Girls Aloud singer and dance captain Cheryl Tweedy chose to mentor the group.

Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Tweedy is dance captain for The Brothers of Dance Picture: BBC

Iffan's passion for performing began when he was very young.

"I started dance when I was six doing freestyle disco and street dance then this progressed into many other styles such as lyrical jazz and ballet," said Iffan, now studying for a diploma in dance at Liverpool Central Studios.

"I'm not sure when I discovered I had a special talent, I just enjoyed doing dance so much I went to every single class every week."

Iffan studied GCSEs at Ysgol Dinas Bran secondary school in Llangollen.

"The thing I enjoy most about dancing is the thrill and excitement it brings performing on stage," he said. "It's such a rush and so fun but I also love to learn and try new things in class and in the studios with my friends and teacher.

"And of course I love training with The Brothers of Dance."

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In the first live show the group staged a powerful chess routine, impressing viewers with their unique, imaginative, dramatic style.

Set with a challenge of The Amazon, the boys put on a beautifully crafted performance choreographed to Emelie Sandé's Sparrow the following week.

The guys continued to win rave reviews for their slick and stylish performance to Dua Lipa's 'Don't Start Now' last Saturday.

"I've been with Brothers of Dance since the beginning," said Iffan. "Dane our choreographer put us together about a year ago and I've known him from previous lessons."

Rehearsing for rigorous routines requires meticulous detail, painstaking determination, energy and agility.

"Every day I train for at least six hours, most days more," said Iffan. "The hardest part of that is going from one class to another as it is very tiring and demanding on your body. But I love what I do and really enjoy rehearsing and training."

The camaraderie and coordination of each dancer in the group has impressed judges and the audience as they all have their own unique character.

"I would describe my personality as fun and caring as I'm always smiling and love to talk to everyone and make friends and have a joke but I'm also very determined and dedicated," said Iffan.

"My dream job would be to dance and make a living of it by travelling the world. I'd just love to continue to dance and make a career from it as that wouldn't really be a job, but more of a dream itself."