A young Highland dancer from Prestonpans will took to the world stage on Thursday as she danced at the Cowal Gathering in Dunoon, Argyll.

Alex Anderson, 11, attends the Dannsa Gu Bráth dance school in Cockenzie, and owner Chloé McClean, 22, expressed her pride in the young dancer.

Speaking before the event she told the Courier: “I don’t think she quite understands just how big an achievement this is.

“Cowal is the pinnacle of Highland dancing, it’s where the World Highland Dancing Championships are, so we’re really excited for that one.

“She takes everything in her stride and I’m sure she’ll do great and have an amazing time.”

Alex was recently chosen as one of a team to represent the Lothians at the area finals in Oban in May next year, after competing at the International Festival of Dancing and the Performing Arts last week.

Chloé said: “She has qualified for what is essentially the area finals.

“All the locations in Scotland are split into different regions and she will represent team Lothian.

“She’s been dancing since she was about six years old but has only recently started competing, so she wasn’t at all expected to achieve what she did.”

Chloé, who lives in Edinburgh, set up the Cockenzie dance school in November 2020, in an attempt to identify dancers in the East Lothian area.

She said: “There are some dance schools already here, but not many, and I thought this would be a chance to reach people in this area and get them involved with dance.

“We have just under 30 dancers now and it’s amazing to see them embracing the Scottish culture.

“I know dancing with swords and stuff isn’t really ‘cool’ so it’s nice to see that they do enjoy it.”