THE soaring popularity of street dance has led to new classes being launched in Old Town and Cheney Manor.

The Academy of Street Dance is starting extra lessons because it has been deluged with dance enthusiasts.

Richard Whyburd-Lane, co-founder of the academy said: “There is a huge demand, I’ve worked for many companies in the dance sector and the growth rate is incredible.

“We’ve had to recruit five new team coaches and have an excess of 200 students within six months of launching.

He added: “We are aiming to franchise within a year.

“We seem to be well received by the community, children and parents and feel we are a much needed a ray of optimism for the youth and parents of Swindon, which is why we are booming.”

The academy is already running classes in New College and Haydon Leisure Centre and has other schools in South Cerney and Cirencester.

Richard and co-founder Megs O’Driscoll are now planning to expand into west Swindon with the aim of eventually covering all four corners of the town.

“We believe street dance is very important for the youth of the area in this day and age,” said Megs. “Academy of Street Dance ethos and primary aim is to maximise and bring out the full potential of our students.”

“We strongly believe street dance will aid them through many aspects of their lives as it enriched and changed ours.”

Street dance, thought to have started in New York in the 1970s, evolved outside formal dance school lessons and was popular in the 1980s. It has gained gathered more followers in recent years. Performers like the dance troupe Diversity also raised its profile by winning TV show Britain’s Got Talent 10 years ago. The group later went on to star in a Royal Variety Show performance.

Some schools have even begun to introduce it into lessons as physical education.

The academy is teaching a curriculum of traditional street dance brought over from America, said Richard. This includes krumping, breaking, robotics, locking and house.

Students are aged from three to 20 and are divided into three different dance groups - Lil Boppers for ages three to six years old, Junior Groovers for seven to 12s and Teens for 13 years and over.

Classes will run on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays at Croft Sports Centre and Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at Western Community Centre.

Visit the website or email academyofstreetdance@outlook.com