Mia Linnik-Holden and Andrei Toader win youth dance contest

Mia Linnik-Holden and Andrei Toader

Local dancers Mia Linnik-Holden and Andrei Toader began their youth dancing career winning their first contest at the Allied Open Championships in Southport.

The Allied Open marked their first competition as youths, having outgrown the junior category, and Mia and Andrei, of Middleton, were awarded first place in the Amateur Ballroom category, plus second place in U21 Ballroom and in Latin.

Since their partnership began, in May 2015, Mia, 15, and Andrei, 16, became junior world champions, racking up numerous titles in the junior ballroom and Latin ranks.

Mia began dancing at the age of six after asking her parents for lessons, and Andrei, who is originally from Romania, started dancing at the age of three.