Last Saturday she watched as they were judged among Victoria’s top 10 dance crews.

The troupe of 10 dancers, aged 12-18, known as Unit 101, came eighth in the Battleground competition held in Preston — earning them the Most promising award. 

They were the only dancers from country Victoria and were up against Melbourne crews. 

“They got a big cheer from all the other kids and I thought ‘where’s the cheering coming from?’ because we don’t know anyone here,” Ms McCarthy said. 

The group had only been training for a short time at the Uniting Church on Koroit Street and their teacher was a little taken back by the result. 

“I just thought I’d enter them to give them a go,” she said. 

Now the group is setting its sights on the next big challenge, the national World Supreme Battlegound on October 3. Succeed there and they could be off to an international competition in Las Vegas in the United States.