Alica Georgiev, an eight-year-old from Wallsend in North Tyneside, has amassed more than 250 trophies and awards through her dedication to dance.
The youngster practises seven different types of dance – ballet, tap, modern, lyrical, acrobatic, freestyle and street – and attends 12 lessons per week. She also takes part in judo and boxing. Her collection of trophies and awards fills two full rooms and two corridors inside her home.
World Championship success
Alica has competed in three World Championship competitions for freestyle disco dance, winning her category twice in 2024 and 2025 and coming second place this year. She has also competed in the Freestyle Championships at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool for the last three years in a row, winning two first place trophies and a second place award.
Her father, Dimitar Georgiev, 36, told ChronicleLive: "I'm exceptionally proud. I couldn't ask for anymore. It makes you feel proud and it makes you feel full of joy."
Family pride and support
He added: "She is very focused and very mature for her age. She knows what she's looking for. I have taken part in parent and child dance for fun and every single time I go on stage I feel a little bit nervous but she doesn't have that."
"She has over 250 awards and trophies. I had to put shelves all around the corridors in the house because there are so many of them. So far we have two full rooms and two corridors," he said. "Every single parent believes and knows their child is talented but it seems like she's exceptionally talented. She also does judo and boxing and has trophies from those two extra sports as well."
Ambitions beyond dance
Alica, who can speak three languages, began dancing at the age of four and competing from the age of six. She attends two dance classes every evening after school. Her mother, Elvira Georgieva, 31, said her school encourages her to bring in the trophies she wins over the weekend on a Monday, and it has led to other pupils taking part in extracurricular activities.
She said: "I'm so proud. Every time she wins an award I'm crying. When I watch her, especially lyrical dances, it makes me cry every time."
"Every single day I take her to dance classes and pick her up. She's doing it at least twice a day. She's on the go all the time. Someone asked her what she did in her spare time. She said 'What's free time?' She's quite busy but she absolutely loves it!"
Alica's father is originally from Bulgaria and her mother is Russian. She speaks English as well as both of their native languages.
Earlier this year, Alica won an award as an artist. She entered a competition to design a mural for the Sandhaven Amphitheatre in South Shields and won, with her artwork chosen from almost 100 entries by Joe McElderry. She also plans to take part in the Beauty and the Beast pantomime at the People's Theatre in Newcastle.
Dimitar said: "When she won the first championship I was crying my eyes out because I couldn't believe it was happening. We were so proud we were calling everyone and Facetiming every relative we have to give them the good news."
He added: "She wants to be an actress and she wants to perform."
