Pupils from a Letchworth dance academy have shared the stage with Strictly Come Dancing star Pasha Kovalev.

Two casts from Dance Steps Academy danced with Pasha at Stevenage’s Gordon Craig Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday last week during a performance of his touring show Let’s Dance the Night Away.

Pasha came backstage to sign the girls’ T-shirts and have photos taken, and said he wished all schools were of the same high standard.

Sarah Johnson, who has run Dance Steps for 26 years, said: “Pasha was quite inspirational to my students. He said he ‘loved our group’ as we didn’t just ‘do’ the moves, all the dancers really performed, and it was obvious that we were giving our all and enjoying every second.

“He said that is why he loves performing so much, and that we were doing an ‘amazing job’.”