TWO students of the famous dancer Honey Kalaria's Dance Academy in Woodgrange Avenue, Kenton, have been getting a real taste of stardom.

Sophie Argent, 21, from Harley Road, Kenton, performed at the Chain of Hope charity function in London's Dorchester Hotel on October 8, to help raise money for sick and needy children abroad. Guests of honour included the actor Omar Sharif.

"It was beautiful," said Sophie, who has been a member of Honey's academy for four years, but has been dancing since she was five.

"We met Omar Sharif, who was really lovely. I can see why my mum likes him. Knowing there were some celebrities there gave me a real buzz."

Karan Pengali,15, of Grantchester Close, Sudbury, appears in Jeremy Wooding's feature film Bollywood Queen, which stars Priya Kalidas, and which had its UK premier in Leicester Square. His dance sequences were choreographed by Honey.

Karan, who has been a member of the dance school for five years, said: "It was great because I got to work with quite a lot of people from India, and Honey let me teach them some choreography.

"I got quite a good position on screen. It was good working with Priya, she's a really nice person."

Honey, who has been dancing since the age of four, is a professional performing artist and has danced throughout the world before audiences which have included the Queen, Tony Blair and the late Princess Diana.

To share her love of dance, she set up her academy in 1997, basing it at Kenton Methodist Church. It is now the first port of call for film directors and producers from India, the UK and the USA, looking for top-level dancers and extras to appear in videos, films and adverts all over the world.

Some high-profile projects include the Bollywood films Kabhi Kushi Kabhie Ghum and Indian Babu, as well as pop videos for Bond and S-Club Juniors.

 Bollywood, bhangra and classical Indian dance classes run on Wednesday and Friday evenings. For further information and free introductory classes, call 020 8590 8050.