DOZENS of talented young performers are bringing a touch of US hip-hop to Bridgwater every week with funky street dancing sessions.

Trained dance and aerobic instructor Julia Kamin, who lives in Puriton, has been teaching local youngsters aged between five and 11, and adults the art of street dancing for a year and a half.

Julia's 'Switch Dance' classes are held weekly at Chilton Trinity Sports Centre with special workshops held throughout the summer.

A group of 60 budding street dancers of the future showcased their newfound skills at the sports centre last Friday in front of 120 parents and spectators with a special performance - and the Mercury was given an exclusive sneak peak, as our snaps prove.

Julia says the sessions, which are set to modern, funky pop music, are a great way for people of any age to get active and learn different life skills.

She said: “I teach routine based dances to children that want to 'dance like they do on the TV', and to adults that are looking for something a bit different and feel that they have a dancer somewhere deep inside!

“My core aim is to make dance accessible rather than elitist by mixing street dance moves with current music to create fun classes for everyone.

“You can call it MTV dancing, you can call it backing dancing, you can call it street dance...but we call it Switch!

“It is a great way to raise your confidence, work as part of a team, and we encourage each dancer to develop their own personal style.

“I just want everyone to have fun and laugh a lot, but not at each other.”

In the New Year Switch Dance will be expanding by joining forces with Somerset Leisure Trust to create a programme within the leisure centres it runs.

To find out more contact Julia on 01278-684273.