Dancers raising funds for European hip-hop championships

A team of 20 youngsters from Portsmouth dance school The Movement Initiative danced all day on Friday to raise money for the International Dance Organisation’s European hip hop championships, which 40 people from the team will attend in the Czech Republic in June.

Dance teacher Becky Smith said: ‘We have already raised about £2,000, and we are looking to raise as much as we can.

‘We competed in UK Hip Hop Championships in Blackpool in January this year.’

The team travels all over Portsmouth and performs to raise funds.

They even cycled the distance from Portsmouth to Czech Republic in their studio, which is 1,600km – about 1,000 miles.

It took nine hours and they did not take any breaks.

After the European competition, The Movement Initiative plans to go to the city of Graz in Austria, for the World Hip Hop Championships, from October 19 to 23.

This time, 50 dancers are planning to go.

Steph Freitas, 15, said: ‘Dancing is something I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve been practising for four years now.

‘I started together with a friend. We have international competitions every year. TMI is like a big family.’

Tyler Pafford, 14, added: ‘I started dancing at seven and I’ve been a part of the team for six years. I discovered them at a competition and I joined them.’

Maisie Kathakye, 12, only recently joined the team.

She said: ‘I met them during dance workshops. They are open to anyone.’

For more information, go to themovementinitiative.co.uk or visit them in Milton Road.