Young people in Govan who took part in a hip hop dance event have showed the fantastic results they can achieve if they are given help, support and motivation.
A group of youngsters overcame stage nerves and performed hip hop dance routines and sang in front of an enthusiastic audience of friends and family at St Saviours Hall in Govan recently. The rehearsals and event was organised by Youthpoint – a service for young people run by Aberlour Children’s Charity in south-west Glasgow.
Youthpoint aims to assist young people to make positive changes in their lives. Through detached streetwork, staff meet with young people and offer information and advice, and referrals to other services in the area such as colleges and apprenticeship schemes.
Learning to hip hop dance is just one of the many diversionary activities Aberlour’s streetwork team organises for young people in an attempt to stop them hanging about and getting into trouble. The hip hop dance project enabled the team to engage with fourteen girls and two boys. The youngsters worked really hard and were fully committed to attending practices and rehearsals for a (insert timeframe here) week period.
Kerri Pearson, a Young People’s Worker at Youthpoint, says:
“The show was the culmination of a great deal of hard work and effort. Their performances were brilliant and that’s because they all gave 100% every week to achieve the ultimate goal – a successful show.
“These young people may have difficulties and struggle with some parts of their life, but we saw confident young people, full of life, determined to work together to be successful. This activity was great for their self-esteem. It showed that they could be really good at something if they were encouraged and put in the effort.”
The show was put together in partnership with Dance Engergee School of Dance. The two professional dancers guided the young people through the routines some elements were choreographed solely by youngsters.
The set included a number of contemporary songs and each performance was full of energy and enthusiasm.
Johnny Hendry, a Young People’s Worker at Youthpoint, said:
“We have seen a big change in the level of confidence of the young people during the project. They started off being shy and unsure of themselves but during the performance they showed that Govan really does have talent. If these young people reflect the future of the area, then it looks much brighter.”
Aberlour is Scotland’s largest solely children’s charity and works in Scotland with and for children, young people and families who need additional support to promote their development and well being.