By Ronan McSherry
Starry eyed local children were thrilled to meet Britain's Got Talent's 'singing in the rain' star George Sampson in Donaghmore on Saturday morning.
The dancing sensation was the guest of Beam Creative Network, which facilitated a dance workshop with 40 children from the 'ImagineAction' project.
Sixteen-year-old George Sampson rose to fame in 2008 when he was crowned the winner of Britain's Got Talent.
He went on to star in the West End show 'Into The Hoods' and released a best-selling DVD.
George spent two hours with the ImagineAction children, showed them some of his dance moves and talked about his rise to fame.
Twelve-year-old Joseph McVeigh from Eglish was one of the lucky participants.
He said, "It was fun to meet someone who is so well known and who impressed Simon Cowell! I'm really enjoying the ImagineAction project as we get to learn lots of new skills and get to meet lots of people who have become major success in drama and dance."
ImagineAction invites young people to broaden their skills through a range of workshops that build a bridge between arts and sports and other fun filled activities.
The forty youngsters are all aged 13-16 and hail from rural areas in County Tyrone.
Over the next two years, participants will learn raw drama, puppetry, hip hop dance, script writing and will take master-classes from some of the best in the business including X Factor maestro Louis Walsh.
Kathryn O'Neill, who is Manager of Beam Creative Network, said, "We are so excited to have George Sampson here with us in Donaghmore.
"The children have been looking forward to this workshop for weeks and I'm sure George didn't disappoint with his award winning dance techniques.
"This has been a never to be forgotten event for them and I am sure it will inspire them in their own dancing."
