St Joseph’s RC Comprehensive in Port Talbot danced their way to victory in the grand final of the Welsh Inter High School Street Dance Championships in Cardiff on Sunday 18 January.

Out of 52 team finalists competing in the championships from across Wales, St Joseph’s was named the overall winner of the competition and won a mini bus for their school for 12 months.

The United Dance Organisation teamed up with the Welsh Assembly Government’s 5x60 programme – a Sports Council for Wales managed scheme which aims to get secondary school pupils in Wales more active, more often – to run a professional dance competition for budding movers and shakers.

Michelle Lewis, the 5x60 officer at St Joseph’s, explains, "We really weren’t expecting to win this competition at all. In the regional heats in Swansea, we only just got through to the final and so the crew worked extra hard in training and changed their routine for the big day. The hard work obviously paid off!

"The mini bus is a great prize for the school because we are struggling when it comes to transportation for extra-curricular activities. I’ve seen the children’s self-confidence grow in this competition, which has been wonderful to witness."

Regional heats were held in Swansea, Cardiff, Wrexham and Carmarthen in November and December and the grand final at St David’s Hall in Cardiff on Sunday 18 January. There were two age categories for the team event, with school years 7, 8 and 9 competing in one age group and years 10 and 11 in another, along with a quads competition also for each age category (full list of results under notes to editors).

Lewis adds, "We won the 10-11 team category and the 7-9 quads competition, and took seventh place in the 7-9 team category but won the overall competition. They’re all very proud of their trophies and medals."

Simon Dibley, CEO of the United Dance Organisation, explains the reasoning behind the competition:

"Street dance is becoming more and more popular, especially within education; therefore we decided to provide the students across the country with an exciting and professional dance competition for them to showcase their talents."

5x60 provides pupils with a mixed bag of opportunities. Proving the most popular among girls is dance which features right at the top of the league table while football, fitness and cheerleading are also favoured. Meanwhile, boys tend to swerve towards dodge-ball but they also beat a path to the football pitch and the basketball court.

Chair of the Sports Council for Wales, Philip Carling explains:

"The underlying goal is to encourage those who do not take part in sport to get active. When pupils are reluctant to take part, 5x60 officers are on hand to listen to concerns and to help overcome any hurdles."