Talented Port Talbot pupils whose street dance moves proved to be the best in Wales have been celebrating winning a mini bus for their school.
St Joseph’s Catholic Comprehensive School were recently crowned champions at the Welsh Inter High School Street Dance Championships, held at Cardiff’s St David’s Hall.
As well as the title, the school’s prize includes use of a top of the range minibus for a year.
Amazingly, it was the second year in a row the school has won the top prize at the event.
The 33 victorious year 7 to 12 pupils will now head for the UK finals in Stoke-on-Trent in November.
The pupils are encouraged to get active and involved in a range of sports and physical activity in school through their 5×60 sessions.
Street dance has become one of the most popular 5×60 activities in Neath Port Talbot, with eight out of the 11 secondary schools in the area being represented at the competition.
5×60 is a Sport Wales initiative, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and run locally by Neath Port Talbot Council’s Physical Activity and Sport Service (PASS). It is all about getting secondary school children active for at least 60 minutes, five times a week.
All the dance routines were choreographed by the pupils during break, lunch times or after school with the help of their 5×60 officer and specialist tutoring from local company TAN Dance.
Each school is allocated a 5×60 officer, whose role is to co-ordinate a range of sports during break time, lunch time and after school. The pupils are then encouraged to carry on activities in community clubs outside school.
Year 12 pupil Shakara Brown said:
“I’ve been dancing since I could walk and wanted the opportunity to incorporate dance into the school. All of us got together and realised how much we all loved to dance.
“In 5×60 we get allocated time in school and we’re encouraged to enter competitions, it’s really good. Maybe I can make something of dancing in the future.”
Council Leader, Councillor Ali Thomas said:
“Congratulations to the school and everyone who has been involved in the competition.
“I’m delighted to see St. Joseph’s pupils being the champions of street dance in Wales and wish them every success in the UK finals.
“Bringing home such a marvellous prize will benefit all pupils at the school.”
Chair of Sport Wales, Professor Laura McAllister said:
“What a fantastic effort and an excellent prize for everyone at the school. The pupils and staff at St Joseph’s should be proud of what they’ve achieved.
“Alongside our more traditional sports like football, rugby and cricket, 5×60 activities such as street dancing are providing youngsters with opportunities to take part in physical activity that weren’t available to previous generations of school pupils.”
For more information visit www.sportwales.org.uk, www.5×60.org.uk or www.npt.gov.uk.
Competition results:
- St Joseph’s Year 7-9 team came 3rd of 47 dance teams
- Year 10-12 team came 1st of 30.
- Year 7-9 male duo team came 4th of 78.
- Year 7-9 female duo team came 5th of 78
- Year 10-12 duo team came 1st of 32.
- Year 7-9 quad team came 2nd of 56.
- Year 10-12 quad team 1st of 47.
