School students compete in breakdancing competition

A troupe of talented street dancers from Lyndon School in Solihull, part of the Summit Learning Trust family of schools, competed for a top ‘breaking’ trophy last week – with Year 9 and 10 learners taking first prize in a thrilling dance-off against peers from across the Borough.

The two teams of learners, in Years 7 and 8, and Years 9 and 10, spent weeks choreographing their routines, having perfected their technique during a special workshop with Solihull-based pro-street dancer Tom Lowe. Thanks to Tom’s coaching, they performed their two-minute-thirty sequences with passion and flair, packing in breaking steps like top rocks, freezes and other essential moves needed under the competition rules. 

Judges were looking for slick formations, high energy, technique and skills – performed in abundance by the Year 9 and 10 winning team. Meanwhile, the Year 7 and 8 team came an impressive sixth in a fiercely competitive category. 

Two specific learners, Starry and Chris (Year 9), won the individual freestyle competition, where all learners from each school were taught a small motif and then had to perform this to the judges and improvise their own freestyle to finish off. Also featuring in the competition top 10 were Maja (Year 8), Emily-Rose (Year 10), Assinat (Year 8) and Lilly Mae (Year 7).

Ava, Year 8, said: “I can't wait to do this again next year, if only we could be a part of more competitions like this is school”. 

Sophie McCoy, Performing Arts teacher, Lyndon School, said: “I am so proud of our learners for their terrific performances – a complete celebration of the breaking style. More impressive, however, are the levels of commitment they have displayed throughout the process. They have rehearsed every week after school, and most have gone away and created choreography to contribute to the overall routines at home in their own time. They fully deserve this achievement.”

Abid Butt, Principal, Lyndon School, said: “Dance is a particular strength at Lyndon School and just one of the ways we encourage learners to express themselves through performance arts. With breakdancing set to take centre stage at the Paris Olympics this summer, our learners have shown why the sport is so popular.”