While we are enjoying the coronation bank holiday weekend in Leeds, nine youngsters from Middleton will be competing in the All Star World Dance Championships at Universal studios in Florida, USA.
The nine are members of Dynamite TNT, one of the teams that hip hop dance organisation Dynamite runs from a local church hall.
TNT won their place at the Championships at their first competition back after a three year break due to Covid. Although the pandemic put a stop to competitions it didn’t stop TNT from training.
They trained in one of the parents’ back gardens maintaining social distancing at all times and even raised funds for a gazebo so that they wouldn’t be rained off. Once restrictions were lifted, they created the routine they are taking to Florida.
They entered the competition with no expectations other than having fun, but they were placed first with the highest score of their age division and the third highest score out of the whole competition, including the adult age groups.
Parent Rebecca Goddard commented:
“Then when we thought that was crazy enough … we won the bid out of the whole competition to compete in the world championships in America
“To win a bid you have to come first at a UK competition and have the highest score to even be considered to go. You literally have to be the best. We knew we were good and believed we would do well, but we had no expectations other than to have fun.
“As you can imagine there were many tears, happy of course! Our nine little dancers and coaches had done it. This is literally a dream come true that we’ve had for a very long time.”
Dynamite is a small organisation that fundraises constantly to keep the costs of participation as low as possible so that as many local children can take part. Now they had to make sure the team could go and compete in Florida on equal terms with everyone else there.
Rebecca continued:
“We have had a major sponsor from G3 Remarketing Car Auctions in Castleford and they have made this happen for us. The outfits we have been able to provide are out of this world. We cannot wait to see them perform and hopefully bring them home as world champions!”
Leeds Dynamite run many different teams across ages from 4 years old through to young adult. They hold classes Monday to Friday from 4:30-8pm at the Ark Family centre in Middleton. To find out more go to their website at: leedsdynamitedance.co.uk, or on Facebook
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