Dare to Dance

Dare to Dance is a pilot project which aims at increasing participation in physical activity through the medium of Street Dance using Hip Hop Dance Techniques

The target is Young Women aged 14-19 years

The project is led by independance and Pro- Active Central and Funkphysics, in collaboration with Nike , Bebo, Big Dance, Southbank Centre, and b.supreme festival for women in Hip Hop.

This project aims to attract young women through a medium that they can engage with. Hip Hop is a dance form that has become the voice of young people, breaking down racial, ethnic, gender, class, language and regional barriers..

Because they see it as part of their culture young women are more likely to engage with it as a medium of exercise. In terms of other physical activity, dance also continues to reach out to girls and young women many of whom prefer the more creative physical activity that dance offers, over the competitive aspect of other sport forms.

Although focused on central regions it is intended that this initiative, will be open to a London wide participation.

Following the event the eight finalist groups will be offered a mentored training with Nike finalists, D'Clash who are under the Artistic Directorship of Nike European dance Consultant and Athlete Kymberlee Jay. The young women will train through out the Summer and Early Autumn in preparation for the b.young-b..supreme festival for women in Hip Hop at The Southbank Centre on 18 October 2008, where they will compete again to find the overall winning group.

Dance Project Outline

Who Can Take Part ?

  • The young women should be aged between 14 and 19 years of age.
  • Groups of between 4 and 8 members can compete
  • The groups must work in the medium of Street Dance and should have prepared a 1 1/2-minute piece of choreography.

What do they have to do to enter the competition?

  • All participants will be able to sign up to the competition in advance through the Bebo website. Once they sign up they will be given a confirmed competition time slot.
  • However, so that we make this really accessible, all participants will also be able to turn up on the day but will have to wait to compete.

Who will be Judging?

  • A panel of industry experts will be judging the competition
  • They will shortlist to 30 groups before selecting the final 8 groups.

What happens next if you didn't get through to the last 8?

  • All participating groups will be given information about dance classes in their London region and in central London, they will be given access to the Bebo network of participants where they can find out more information.
  • If Sponsorship/ fundraising is successful the aim is to give, each participating group vouchers which they will be able tp redeem for dance Classes

What happens next if you did get through?

  • Under the guidance of Nike European Dance Consultant and Athlete Kymberlee Jay (Funkphysics), each of the 8 finalist groups will be given a Nike D'Clash mentor who will work with them on the development of a new or more developed routine.
  • Each group will have access to the mentor/trainer for 18 days. This will be broken down in to Summer Holiday rehearsals and weekend rehearsals.
  • Each group will have dance studio space paid for
  • Each group will have a small budget for costumes

What happens after the training period?

  • Each group will perform in the b.young b.supreme Festival for Young Women in Hip Hop at The Southbank Centre on October 18 2008.
  • One winning group will be selected.

What happens if you were not the winning group?

  • All the participants will be offered access to accredited training and assistance with the development of their ongoing training.

What is the prize?

  • If Sponsorship/ fundraising is successful the aim is to award the winning group a weekend of Dance in one of the worlds Dance Capitals
  • The winning group will be invited to perform as part of a platform of regional work presented in the following year.
  • The winning group will be invited to the Dare to Dance event in 2009
  • All the participants will be offered access to accredited training and assistance with the development of their ongoing training.