Craze from the States

RA, ra, ra! Traditional cheerleading combined with energetic street moves gave these young girls a dancing hit

POM poms, a healthy dose of attitude and some funky moves were the order of the day as energetic Oldham girls sampled the latest dance to come out of America.

Girls aged from six to 14 hotfooted it to the Radclyffe Athletics Centre to try their hand at Street Cheer, a funky fusion of traditional cheerleading moves and street dancing.

The dance sessions, which had also taken place at Failsworth Sports Centre, were part of an action-packed Easter holiday timetable arranged by the Oldham Athletic Community Trust, which also saw scores of youngsters having a go at teen gym, and soccer school.

And it is a good job that the girls were on top form, because Street Cheer coach Alison Slater says that the dance is fizzing with energy.

She said: “Street Cheer has proved a really big hit since we’ve been taking it around the schools in Oldham, with some teachers even requesting coaching sessions.

“It has gone down really well with the girls who came to our Easter holiday sessions and they love its liveliness.

There is something for everyone in this dance, so it can be enjoyed equally whether you’re five or 55.”