GLAMOUROUS ballroom dancing turned a school s first community tea dance event into a success. Students and staff at Dagenham Park Community School, School Road, Dagenham, organised the tea dance for the community on April 21. Carol Tustanowskyj, 47, is Di

GLAMOUROUS ballroom dancing turned a school's first community tea dance event into a success.

Students and staff at Dagenham Park Community School, School Road, Dagenham, organised the tea dance for the community on April 21.

Carol Tustanowskyj, 47, is Director of Performing Arts at Dagenham School, and said: "The idea is to develop more community cohesion between young people and the older generation and to support healthy life styles.

"We're also hoping to extend the artistic activities and to put together four tea dances every year."

Popular DJ Mr Wonderful and his following of tea dancers, students and elderly residents were joined by the Neighbourhood Management team, Police Community Support Officers and the council's Arts Development Officer Neesha Badhan.

Student Skirmante Savilionyte, 15, who has been doing ballroom dance for five years, gave an awe-inspiring performance with her partner Olegg Terekhov, 14.

Ms Tustanowskyj said: "It was technically brilliant and extremely challenging.

"It looked exactly like something out of Strictly Come Dancing."

The stunning show encouraged the remaining tea dancers to show off their moves by waltzing, line dancing, doing the Quickstep and the Rumba.

The school is planning to hold four tea dances every year.

The next tea dance will be held on July 3 from 2-4pm at Dagenham Park Community Hall.

The entrance fee is �2.50.