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Kids take to the street and stay out of trouble

Stuart Pike
22/ 9/2006

INNOVATIVE dance classes are giving youngsters an alternative to hanging around street corners - by bringing in the beats and moves that evolved from those streets.

Street dancing sessions have started at St Mark's Church in Charlestown, Blackley, helping boys and girls boost their self-confidence and fitness as well as learning a new skill.

The classes are the idea of teacher Stacey Daly, who learned to dance to R&B and hip hop style music in the vibrant Moss Side street dancing scene.

Stacey, 22, said: "It's to get the kids off the streets, get them to a class and working towards something. Basically it is about building themselves up to be a person rather than a follower.

"If you give them a goal they will keep moving forward, there's nothing round here for kids."

The craze, which requires good agility and loose fitting clothes, can be in set routines or 'free style', but Stacey stresses that a vigorous warm up and warm down is essential.

She said: "It originated from America where people just put on music and just dance in the streets. People over here just don't understand that.

"It's important to stretch all the muscles and to make the circulation run quicker. When I start warming them up I warm them up in dance.

"For the girls it's the hips for the lads it's the upper body, chest and arms. We do freestyle dancing, then I do a set routine for them and we go over and over it, before doing a cool down."

Street dancing is a cousin of breakdancing, in which Stacey is also hoping to offer workshops in the not too distant future, but she needs more boys.

She runs classes lasting 75 minutes from 11am to 3pm on Saturdays, costing £2.50.

The required clothing is essentially anything you can move easily in, such as old baggy pants or loose shorts, and trainers.

If you are interested in joining in or finding out more call Stacey on 07904 925658.