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VIDEO - Rush.dance show why they're streets ahead





Rush.dance student Tyler Hutton became a European champion at just seven years old.
Rush.dance student Tyler Hutton became a European champion at just seven years old.

Scroll down to watch video.IT is argued Thurso is the town where break dancing was first introduced to Scotland.In the 1960s American servicemen, stationed at the US naval base at Murkle, were believed to have made the town the birthplace of Scottish street dancing.Fifty years on, a Caithness-based street dance group is now considered one of the best in the UK and is also making an impact on the international stage.Rush.dance can boast Scottish, UK and European champions in its ranks, a feat made even more impressive by the fact the group was only established four years ago.But, despite winning numerous titles in a short space of time, its main aim is to give youngsters the opportunity to express themselves and gain confidence they never knew they had.Running weekly classes in Thurso and Wick, over 60 members practise their moves and choreography under the watchful eye of instructor Willie Miller.A former Scottish break-dancing champion at youth level during the 1980s, he was a member of the Caithness break dancing group the Gypsy Warriors, who only lost one out of 90 competitions across Scotland during three years.After the group split up, street dancing in Caithness died until Mr Miller decided to resuscitate it four years ago after meeting up with one of his old dance crew members."I met up with an old friend who was in the Gypsy Warriors and was working as a break dancing instructor down south," he said."We were part of a break dancing group in the 1980s which was considered to be the best in the UK but when we got older and started work, the scene stopped up here."I approached him four years ago and told him I wanted to set up something here in Caithness to bring street dancing back."Over the last four years it has just gone crazy – we have had roughly 1000 kids in Caithness who have come through the doors and tried it at least once."People don’t understand how big street dancing in the UK is. There are 60 clubs in Glasgow alone and at the Scottish championships later this year there will be competitors from 16 countries."Mr Miller (43) runs two classes a week with his daughter, Rebecca,who is an international dancing champion.Rebecca concentrates on teaching street dance routines to the students, which allows Mr Miller to concentrate on teaching his pupils break dancing tricks and flips which are an important part of competing.Currently, 16 students from Caithness are regularly competing in tournaments across the UK and taking back to the north major titles.This year alone at the Mad Street Dance Championships in Motherwell, Chloe MacGregor was under-eight novice champion, Laya Cowie the under-10 novice champion and Rebecca Miller the under-16 intermediate champion.Last year, Tyler Hutton, at just seven years old, was crowned the under-eight European champion at the Eurodance Disco Freestyle and Street Dance Championships.Mr Miller is amazed with the confidence his students show in major competitions when they have to perform in front of large audiences."When we first set up, I didn’t want to get the younger members of the group taking part in major competitions as I thought it may be a daunting experience," he said."But what I found was the kids aren’t scared about performing in front of a big crowd and we have a few students who are under six who will take part in major competitions this year."There was one student who joined when she was three, stood against the wall very shy and cried saying she didn’t want to come back."By the age of four she proved she could do some moves and went on to win a competition by performing a 90-second solo routine in front of 1000 people at Blackpool Tower."It is not just about learning to street dance, it is about expressing who they are and working as a team."Parents also say street dancing has helped their children gain confidence as well as fitness.Kerrie Pickup (28), from Thurso, said: "It has changed my sons amazingly. Before they were restricted to what they could do but coming to Rush.dance has changed them."To watch them perform and compete is amazing, they are completely different boys to what they were over a year ago and they always look forward to the training sessions."Tracy Farquhar (39), from Wick, said: "My daughter was very shy when she first attended the classes in Wick but now she loves performing in competitions."For her, Rush.dance has brought her out of herself and she is now full of confidence."For all the major trophies his students have won, Mr Miller said teaching them new skills to allow them to be able to express themselves is the most rewarding part of his job.He said his students have come a long way in the last four years but believes the group could go even further."I want to hand it over to my daughter, who wants to become a dance instructor," he said."She teaches routines for the kids to use in competitions and because of her, they have achieved major success."The kids love her and work hard for her and, as a result, they are beating performers who are trained by professional instructors."Rush.dance is all about them. What they’ve achieved is amazing but I think we have only touched the edge of showing our true potential."More information about Rush.dance is available on its Facebook site.


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