Blades cut a route to Glasgow world finals

Dancers from Blades Academy qualified in Blackpool for the UDO Street Dance World Championship and Six Nations, as a team and also a duo. Team left to right, Charnaye Dudley, Alexa-Jae Greenidge, Chante Pilgrim, Tatenda Mashonganyika, Nicole Borges, Nicole Brown. Artistic director Yolande Blades pictured in front with trophy.

STREET dancers from Oldham are celebrating after popping and locking their way to the United Dance Organisation (UDO) World Championships.

The team from Blades Academy qualified for the prestigious competition after impressing judges during their recent heat in Blackpool.

Their achievement is even more amazing as it was the group’s first time entering the competition.

Yolanda Blades, Artistic Director at Blades Academy, said: “I have always wanted to take the dancers to the UDOs, but I wanted to make sure they were ready for the challenge.

“This year, after a lot of hard work and training, I thought they were good enough to compete. To qualify for the World Championships on our first attempt is unbelievable.”

The dance team, named “Exposure”, qualified for the competition as did duo 14-year-olds Nicole Brown and Alexa-Jae Greenidge, who had to think on their feet and adapt a routine to previously unheard music as part of their challenge.

Yolanda added that the team are now working hard to prepare routines to take to the World Championships, which will be held in Glasgow in August.

The dancers, aged 13 to 18, will also represent England when they compete in the UDO Six Nations in November.

Yolanda said: “I’m so proud of the entire team. This is such an achievement and we are all excited about the opportunity.”

“We’re looking forward to creating our dance routines and training hard for the competitions.”