page revision date : Sunday 28th june 2009
Get on your toes – and dance away the blues!
Young dancers from across Pembrokeshire stepped into the spotlight last week for the second 5x60 Inter School Dance competition where over 60 pupils aged between 11 and 14, from six County secondary schools, came together for the competition at Fishguard Leisure Centre.
The pupils from Sir Thomas Picton, Milford, Ysgol y Preseli, Greenhill, Pembroke and Ysgol Bro Gwaun competed against each other in two categories – quad groups and teams – with Sir Thomas Picton dancers winning both classes.
Regular exercise a must
Organised by Sport Pembrokeshire - the sports development arm of Pembrokeshire County Council - the 5x60 project aims to encourage more secondary school children to take part in extra-curricular activities, while getting fit at the same time. The initiative encourages youngsters to take part in one hour of regular exercise, five times a week.
Councillor Rob Lewis, Cabinet Member for Sport and Leisure said school dance clubs had now been set up in most of Pembrokeshire’s secondary schools.
“The introduction of activities such as street dance and cheerleading symbolises the steep change that we are trying to effect in secondary school sport,” he said. Russell Jones, 5x60 Manager for Sport Pembrokeshire, said dance successfully engaged large numbers of girls and boys in healthy exercise, many of whom would not normally participate in sport.
“Dance is a creative and enjoyable form of expression – and it is, above all, popular,’ he said.
Great competition but also great fun
At the competition, dancers performed in front of a panel of three judges comprising, Melissa Mcphee, Ashley Newsham and Ellie Rees. The category winners were presented with a trophy, while all participants received a T shirt each.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable event and if you would like more information about the Sport 5x60 project please contact: russell.jones@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
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