They first started dancing after the youth support service employed a professional street dance artist to work with young people in Colburn last year. Since then they have trained almost every week to reach the highest possible standard.
The group first performed at the North Yorkshire Dance Platform at the Galtres Centre in Easingwold, and the dancers were keen to look the part on their big day. They applied to Keyfund, a charity open to young people to create community projects and used the funding to design their own distinct dance uniform and to pay for trips to see other professional street dance artists at work.
They now train every Friday evening at the Colburn leisure centre and have become mentors to junior members, building up the size of the group. They also gain accreditation for their dance skills through the Arts Awards.
On Saturday they will perform in Leeds at the West Yorkshire Playhouse as part of a street dance show case. Later in the summer they will perform at CultureShock, the county council's three-day youth arts festival held in June at the Harrogate Showground.
Youth support worker Christopher Layfield said: "Sport is a very popular activity with boys in this area and we put on basketball and football through the youth support service but we wanted to widen it out. The group have become mad keen on street dance and are very dedicated to the training and to maintaining the necessary level of fitness. They are very professional in their approach and are building up lots of new skills. Street dance offers a new and exciting twist on positive activities.
County Councillor Arthur Barker, North Yorkshire's Executive Member for the Youth Support Service said: "These young men are to be congratulated on the dedication they have shown to reaching very high standards in this activity. They have continued to apply themselves and are a good example to younger people in Colburn, showing what can be achieved if you try hard enough."
14 March 2012