A TWINKLE-TOED Barrhead schoolgirl is taking centre stage on hit BBC show The Greatest Dancer.

Charlie Gardiner has been wowing judges on the TV talent contest as part of energetic troupe Dancepoint.

And the 17-year-old St Luke’s High pupil is hoping readers of the Barrhead News will get behind the group this weekend as they continue their bid for glory.

“We didn’t expect to get this far but the amount of support has been unreal,” Charlie told the Barrhead News.

“My family and friends have all been loving it and I get messages every week congratulating me. It’s been amazing.

“We really need as much help as possible to get through this week and we appreciate every vote, as not many teams in Scotland get recognition for sport in general.”

Barrhead News: Charlie Gardiner is performing on The Greatest DancerCharlie Gardiner is performing on The Greatest Dancer

Charlie was aged just 10 when she joined the Dancepoint troupe and started performing in pantomimes such as Pinocchio and Treasure Island at Glasgow’s Pavilion Theatre.

Last year, she was selected for the role of sportscotland Young Ambassador to promote sport and motivate other young people to be more active.

Her proud mum Sylvia said: “Charlie has worked so hard for this and always gives everything 110 per cent.

“The family thinks it’s amazing that this wee lassie can do all this. It is brilliant how far she’s come, from dancing at the Pavilion to performing on primetime television.

“I can’t thank everyone at St Luke’s High and the people of East Renfrewshire enough, as they have backed her through everything she has done.”

Performing alongside Charlie with Dancepoint is her 18-year-old friend Lauren High, from Neilston.

Lauren is a former pupil at St Luke’s High and her family are delighted she has helped the team make it to the final six in The Greatest Dancer, having earned rave reviews for their dramatic interpretation of the ballet Swan Lake in their latest appearance last weekend.

Barrhead News: Lauren High and Charlie GardinerLauren High and Charlie Gardiner

Her mum Angela told the Barrhead News: “We’re excited and very proud of Lauren. All the mums go down to London each weekend to support the dancers.

“Lauren started dancing around the age of three. She went to Gillian Anderson’s Le Dance Studio, in Barrhead, until she was 15 and then she started at Dancepoint.

“All of the extended family come up to the house every weekend to watch The Greatest Dancer at home with Lauren’s siblings.”

Charlie said the Dancepoint team are raring to go again as they prepare to return to our TV screens this weekend.

She added: “I’m feeling really excited and I’m looking forward to performing on Saturday.

“We’re all absolutely buzzing to go on again and, hopefully, we’ll make it through to the finals.”

The latest episode of The Greatest Dancer can be seen on BBC One this evening, starting at 6.30pm.

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