Talk of the Town Music: Battle Educate

Schools and independent groups from across London took place in a break dance tournament with South London crew South Militants named Breaking Crew winners.

Battle Educate is dance group Step into Dance’s annual celebration of hip hop dance which took place at Mountview theatre and drama school in Peckham in December, with South London dancers taking home some of the most prized accolades.

One member of the South Militant crew, Ibrahim Bangura from East Dulwich, was crowned the Breaking Solo winner.

Ibrahim Bangura said: “I’ve worked hard for this; I’ve taken part in the Battles for three years but this is the first time I’ve won.”

South Militants, who have dancers from East Dulwich and Woolwich, said: “We feel great; we’ve worked so hard for this. We are over the moon.”

The All Styles crew winner, Step into Dance Street Company, is based in Wandsworth.

Step into Dance street company said: “We feel ecstatic and blessed. We’re over the moon!”

There were 14 schools and independent groups that battled to be street dance champions and each took part in two rounds of dance battles.

Battle Educate is an annual celebration of street dance organised by Step into Dance, the UK’s largest inclusive dance programme and a partnership project between the Royal Academy of Dance and the Jack Petchey Foundation.

Battle Educate gives the opportunity for young dancers to come together and share their passion and flare for dance, whilst battling it out in front of a packed auditorium.

The students can test their skills in solo and crew battles for the chance to be named champions.

This year, guest producers Soul Mavericks programmed an exciting mix of workshops, performances and an all-important opportunity for crews and individual dancers to battle it out to be the 2019 winners in all styles and breaking, judged by an all-female panel of breakers Roxanne Milliner aka Bgirl Roxy from Streatham, Vanessa Marina, and Kloe Dean.

Closing the day of vibrant dance battles, a range of awards were announced and presented to the young dancers by Artistic Director of the Royal Academy of Dance, Gerard Charles, and Operations Director of the Jack Petchey Foundation, Gemma Juma.