Britney Spears: When she was (even) younger

"I still don't know where her confidence and ambition came from; she was unlike any little girl I'd ever coached before," explains Hood, who taught the young Britney for less than one year before she made the big time in 1989.

And, of course, wherever Britney went, her proud, schoolteacher mum, Lynne, was never far behind.

"They were always together, giggling and asking me for advice on a costume or a particular song Britney was rehearsing for one of the many beauty pageants she competed in."

And Steve means competed. These pageants were serious business and Britney was a serious competitor.

"It was funny watching Britney as a child, one minute she would be this mature and serious, competitive performer next she would switch into being a giggling school kid again -- but she always acted the star.

And she didn't need much encouragement.

"Her mum was very positive and emotionally supportive of Britney's goals and achievements, but without being a pushy parent.

"I look at her now and she hasn't really changed at all, apart from her hair colour -- it used to be shoulder length and brown. She was always a very slim and athletic looking child.

Britney stopped coming to the Hood's dance studio when she auditioned and was accepted for Star Search at the age of nine.

And it wasn't long before the little girl with the big voice was on TV performing -- her first appearance as a Mouseketeer. The rest, of course, is pop history.

Since her meteoric rise to stardom, Britney has sold more than 12 million albums, hosted her own TV special and starred in her first movie, Crossroads.

"Looking back, I think eight-year-old Britney inspired me to push my own career forward. I thought if this little girl can do it -- so can I."

And he did. Now he runs his own dance studio in Baton Rouge, USA and is about to release his first dance video.

And not surprisingly Britney, has even turned her hometown of Kentwood upside down since her rise to the top. The town has opened a museum in her honour as a direct response to a flood of calls to state and local tourism councils from fans anxious wanting to visit the Britney's old haunts.