Bristol dancers' fundraising drive for American dream

Dancers from south Bristol are holding a hip-hop fundraising extravaganza to help them get to an international competition in America.

The three-day event, which starts tonight, will see more than 50 youngsters from the Angels Dance Academy in Knowle West show off their latest routines.

It will include an exclusive premiere of the new dance by the Dark Angels troupe, which they will take to the USASF Cheer and Dance World Championships in Florida later this month to defend the title they won last year.

The fundraising event will help the Seraphim Angels, a younger group of eight dancers who need to raise £10,000 to live their own American dream - the chance to compete in the World Hip-Hop Championships in Las Vegas in July.

Tracy Bedford, founder of the Angels Dance Academy, said: "There will be a number of different dance groups performing over the three days, and a lot of routines are works in progress.

"The Seraphim Angels are doing the routine they danced to win the UK International Hip-Hop Championships in Watford last month, and tonight the Dark Angels will premiere the routine they will take to Epcot in Florida.

"It is really exciting, as they have been practising this dance since July. They have massively upped their game and the routine is phenomenal."

The fundraising effort is being co-ordinated by a group of Seraphim Angels' mums, who organised a bucket collection and a dance display at Cabot Circus.

Angel youngsters have also written to businesses and companies to try to get sponsorship, and a burlesque evening to help boost women's confidence is planned for May 1.

Mrs Bedford, 48, who lives in Highridge, said: "The fundraising is going well, but it is an awful lot of money to raise and will be a real struggle. We understand with the economic climate at the moment it is going to be difficult, but we just have to be positive and keep going.

"But this is a phenomenal opportunity that they might never have again.

"Dance in Bristol is bubbling away, and if we can get to Las Vegas it will be our third time in America, which is amazing.

"From the success of the Dark Angels we have had lots of young people joining us who otherwise wouldn't have shown an interest.

"It is engaging young people in a really positive activity that can help get kids off the streets and keep them busy after school.

"It gives them goals to aim for, but once they have achieved them we don't want to say, 'Right, that's it, you've done well but you can't go because we haven't got the money'.

"That is going to disillusion them and make them question why they bothered in the first place.

"So if anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated."

The three-day dance showcase is being held tonight (Thursday), tomorrow and Saturday at The Park in Knowle West, off Daventry Road.

The show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £3 for adults, £2 for children, and all proceeds go to the Seraphim Angels fund. For more information, call Tracy Bedford on 07795 446 469.