A DANCE put together by hundreds of schoolchildren, teachers and parents is set to get Barry in motion next Friday, June 27.

The performance, inspired by Britain’s Got Talent winners, Diversity’s Ashleigh Banjo will see three of the town’s schools share a dance experience extravaganza.

Cadoxton, Barry Island and Romilly primary schools have recently been rehearsing for the show which will be filmed and uploaded onto video sharing website, YouTube, for the world to view.

The project has been made possible thanks to an Arts Council grant.

Organiser, Rhian Baker said: “With our focus of creating physically literate pupils in Wales a cluster of Barry schools have been successful in applying for and receiving an arts council grant for an exciting creative and innovative community dance project.

“This opportunity will show how dance can give children the freedom of expression, improve self esteem and develop confidence through a buzz of a shared performance.

Our aim is that we the children will create a dance that will be practised and performed as a collaborative piece of street dance during national sports week at three different outside venues - Victoria Park, Barry Island promenade and Romilly school field.”

The schools and parents have learnt a street dance to a music track in a series of workshops taught by Emma Mallam and her team at Vibe Create, a specialist choreographer.

The children are the main choreographers of the routine.

Rhian added: “We intend to make a movie about the whole process to share the experience using a company called the Big Learning Company who we regularly work with to record children's experiences. The staff, children and parents are very excited about the opportunity and can’t wait to get dancing and to leave a legacy for others to follow in our footsteps.

My inspiration for this project came from a response to a question I asked a 10-year-old boy.

“’ Why don't you want to take part in dance?’ The response being "Dance is embarrassing and for girls, but Ashleigh Banjo's cool."

“As a school we were missing a valuable opportunity and after a night spent watching Big Town Dance I've been inspired. Dance can have a profound effect on a community and I feel compelled to act.”