October 30th , 2009 → 10:45 am @ admin // No Comments
A team of budding young Portland street dancers are preparing for their premiere at the ‘1000 Days to Go to the 2012 Games’ Halloween Event at Portland Marina this Saturday evening. The 14 local youngsters have come together to learn their new found skills at the Osprey Leisure Centre this half term, an activity organised by the Revive Portland Project. The idea of dance classes was put forward at the Ideas Shop held earlier this year in Fortuneswell, and is one of over 500 such suggestions put forward by the community which now forms the ‘wish list’ for the Revive Project.
Practising hard each afternoon this week, their choreographer and teacher Grace Markwell is thrilled with the results so far. Says Grace: ‘It has been a pleasure to work on this community project. I am so proud of each and every one of them for their input and commitment and helping me to produce a fantastic performance for all the guests on Saturday night.
Darryl (on left in red tee shirt) and his friends at the street dance class get into Halloween mode during practise time at the Osprey Leisure Centre this week.
One very excited member of the dance troop is Darryl Hallett, aged 13, from Portland seen here on the picture with the red tee shirt. He is looking forward to their premiere performance. ‘It has been a fun filled experience. I’ve made new friends and we have all worked well as a team. I’m really looking forward to Saturday night to show people our dance.’
The street dancing will be part of the entertainment at the Halloween Event which starts at floodlit Portland Castle at 6pm on Saturday 31st October, ‘Trick and Treaters’ are invited to join in the fun, wear fancy dress, pick up their free glow sticks, and be part of the Lantern Procession. The ‘spooky but not too spooky’ walk along the waterfront will move to the ‘The Boat That Rocks’ restaurant and cafe, where there will be refreshments, music from local bands Garfields Birthday and Hallelujah Bay, face painting, entertainment and lots lots more! This will be followed by an exciting fanfare of sirens from ships in port followed by a magnificent firework display on the water at 20.12 hours.
After Saturday evenings’ success, the youngsters will have chance to continue to improve their street dancing skills each Friday evening at the Osprey Leisure Centre where a new Youth Club is starting on 6th November, and where street dance classes will continue. Adds Darryl: ‘It is so great to know we can continue to learn more about street dancing after this half term at the new Youth Club sessions – we are really enjoying it!’
