WHITWORTH COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL
DANCERS from Whitworth Community
High School made up more than half of the eight-strong crew Unorthodox that scooped a top trophy in a Manchester competition.
Zach Clayton, 15, Chloe Walker, 13, Georgia Brown, 14, Lucy Lord, 13, and Year 11 Josh Walker all represented Dansworks Dance Academy of Performing Arts in Bacup and competed in the Under14s category at the Iconic Streetdance Competition
at Wright Robinson College.
Chloe said: “We went first and so it was very stressful because we had no idea what the other teams were like.”
Georgia said: “If you see all the other teams first, then you can think about how you are going to be better, but when you are first to perform it just seems such a long time from dancing until they present the awards.”
Lucy said: “I also
competed as a freestyle soloist and made it to the call back round, but unfortunately I did not place, and I competed in the duo category for the first time and came fourth - which was great for our first competition.”
Zach, along with his dad Ben Clayton, Whitworth’s IT Lead Technician, also took part in the parent and child dancing competition.
He said: “The child has to do a dance move and the parent has to copy.
“I went through a few basic moves and then I did a box step and my dad copied. Then we could do some bonus moves like a cartwheel or a flip and my dad said he could do a cartwheel, so we both did one simultaneously and we won second prize out of 35 parent and child entries.
“It is good to learn to dance as a skill and a hobby. It is fun and I like dancing in competitions and being up against other teams because I like the competitive element.”
Georgia said she would not have as many friends as she has had it not been for dancing. They practise as a team at Dansworks for 90 minutes each week, as well as having individual lessons.
Chloe added: “Dancing is good for mental health too so it supports your physical and mental health as well as being good for socialising.”