A STAR studded judging panel, sold out tickets and sparkles in their steps. The South Coast Street Dance Championships once again tore up the floor last weekend as scores of steppers from across the south descended on the dance floor of Portsmouth’s The Mountbatten Centre.

Among the 18 schools who took part and competed were many from Southampton and the south coast including Bust-AGroove, Prodigy, Just Street, Southzone, Belinda’s Dance Academy and Street Beatz.

Joining them was Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) semifinalist from this year Poppin’ Ron and his crew.

The dancers all came with one aim, to bust their moves to try and win trophies and be crowned soloist, pair, trio, team or group of the south coast for the summer set of the bi-annual competition.

Hosted under Street Dance International (SDI) rules and surrounded by scores of screaming parents and schools, the dancers had to prove their moves mattered to the judging panel.

The judges included ‘Game’ who recently finished being Dance Captain for Thriller! Live in the West End, Janine who most recently choreographed for BGT finalists and ‘Dave’ who’s accolades include working with Calvin Klein, JLS and Bench.

The competition began with the closed street solos section where dancers performed in age categories to the latest street and hip hop music. The competition then progressed to the first timers section which included dancers as young as three, before completing with the championship section – open, where dancers perform solo spots to scoop trophies as tall as themselves.

There is always medals and sweets for dancers who didn’t quite make it.

Host Belinda McClory said: “We always aim to run a fun and friendly competition where dancers want to come and compete time and time again.”

  •  The next South Coast Street Championships will be held in December.

If you or your school would like to take part, please call Belinda on 07748951444.