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Leeds youngsters reach for the stars in new film
HIP HOP HOORAY!: Youngsters producing a short film about hip-hop dancing.
Cameras were rolling in Leeds yesterday as budding young stars from Seacroft prepared to hit the silver screen.
Members of East Feast met hip hop dancers from Yorkshire Dance at the St Peter’s Square studios to film a short movie, which will be screened at Hyde Park Picture House in April.
The three-day project is run by local charity Space2, which aims to get ‘hard to reach’ teenagers in East Leeds involved in creative arts projects.
Claire Irving, lead creative artist at Space 2, said: “It’s about changing the perception that Seacroft kids can be rough and don’t have anything to do.
“The truth is these kids are amazing. They just need opportunities like this.
“We’re all having a right good laugh and it’s great to see everyone working together.”
Jaimes Moran, 18, said: “I’ve been involved in the project since it started a few years ago.
“There’s not a lot on offer in Seacroft so a project like this is great because it keeps me out of trouble.”
The project has helped teenagers return to school, apply for college and volunteer on local programmes. Several members have pursued further training in media and one has overcome exclusion from school to return and complete her education.
Chelsea Leckonby, 14, said: “I really enjoy it because it gets me out of the house.
“When I come here we all have a laugh and I’ve made a lot of friends here.”
Regina Nassanga, 15, said: “I’ve been at Space2 for a month or so and you get to do loads of stuff like making films, which has been good because I hope to do film when I go to college.”
The group has been filming members of Yorkshire Dance Youth and Yorkshire Dance Youth Juniors – two urban dance companies mainly made up of young people from the Seacroft and Richmond Hill areas of Leeds.
Space2’s Young People’s project co-ordinator, Emma Hopkinson, said: “The aim is to give these young people the confidence, knowledge and skills to access arts provision locally and across the city.”
The film project is funded by Jimbo’s Fund. For more information, visit: www.space2.org.uk
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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