Black Country's Billy Ellitts becomes world dancing champion

A dancing sensation from the Black Country has been named world champion after winning an international competition.

Billy Ellitts, from Wednesfield, is jumping for joy after becoming world champion

Billy Ellitts, from Wednesfield, set off for Portugal in a bid to follow his dreams.

And the 12-year-old has now returned to the city with a gold medal for the showdance category, after his success at the Dance World Cup Finals 2019 in Portugal.

His mother and father, Anita Babb and Craig Spencer, travelled with the youngster to Braga, for the competition which was held between June 28 to July 6.

Young Billy is now heading to Blackpool for the British Championships

Billy was sponsored by the Tick Tock Day Nursery, Cradley Heath, for his trip – with his brother Antony being the HR manager there.

Dancers from across the world took part, making it one of the biggest global dance competitions.

Anita said: “We went there hoping to get a medal and then him getting gold is like the icing on the cake. He wanted gold from the start, but you never know what’s going to happen – he was amazing.

“I think he was nervous – he always gets pre-stage nerves, but people don’t see what he has to go through.

Billy shows off his gold medal with nursery manager Nicola Pugh and Pauline Chivers from the Tick Tock Day Nursery

“I’m his worst critic but I wanted to see it again – it was really something else. He got one of the highest marks for the competition and one of the judges stood up and started clapping him after he was done.”

She said Billy was still on “cloud nine” after the win but was already in training at the Jordon School of Dance in Halesowen for his next competition.

“He’s still on cloud nine, even though it’s straight back to training – but no-one can take this away from him now. He deserves that medal,” she said. “He’s got a taste for it now he he wants more.”

The 12-year-old, who studies at Coppice Performing Arts School in Wolverhampton, has been backed by his family – including his twin Kane.

Billy in action at Perton Carnival in May

And Billy’s name, despite any similarities to character Billy Elliot, is not influenced by the character.

“People actually think we’ve changed his name and we’re like ‘no, no, no’ and they look at us as if to say ‘really?’ she said.

Billy will next compete at the British Championships this weekend in Blackpool.

And his family hope he will be able to qualify for the World Finals 2020 of the Dance World Cup to defend his title.