Hip-hop dance crew crowned All-Ireland champions

A NORTHSIDE junior hip-hop dance crew were crowned All-Ireland champions for the second year running last month and now have their sights set on the ‘three-peat’ next year.

Lil’ Hustlers crew, from Streets Ahead dance and performing arts studio in Cloghran, triumphed in Trabolgan in the Under 14 Champions code.

This successful group, one of five that come from Streets Ahead, has nine children aged between nine and 13 that are taught by Chloe Simpson.

The other groups consist of another junior crew, a teenage crew and two adult crews and many in the junior crews began their dancing in toddler classes before making the leap.

Following the big victory, Lil’ Hustlers qualified for the World Championships in Las Vegas but had to decline their invitation due to financial reasons and unsuitability, but will be aiming for the three-in-a-row next year.

Sarah Troy, mother of Lil’ Hustler member Ella, described the excitement of winning and the suspense leading up to the decision.

“We were all jumping up and down screaming. We weren’t sure if the judges were going to like the style of dancing that our crew had because the six judges were all from a hip-hop crew from France and they were looking for different things,” said Troy.  

“They obviously liked what they saw and we we’re all absolutely delighted.”

Ella, the youngest member in the crew, has been dancing at Streets Ahead for 18 months. She was with another group below the junior ranking before being asked to join the older children in Lil’ Hustlers.

Ehen she was very small Ella, according to her mum, was inspired after watching a dancing competition show on TV.

“Sky had the show called ‘Got To Dance’ and we used to watch it. She was still very young and she said: ‘I want to do that. I want to be on the TV’, 

“There was a crew called Lil’ Hustlers at the time and they were from Streets Ahead. I said I would find out where they are and it turns out they were only in Cloghran. We only live in Santry so it is only five minutes down the road,” said Troy.  

Meanwhile, the group have applied to appear on The Late Late Toy Show and have received notice of a call-back audition, so fingers crossed that they will be on the box for many families’ favourite TV event of the year.

Although Vegas was out of the question, Troy hopes that the group can travel a little closer to home, maybe somewhere in Europe. One thing is for sure: Lil’ Hustlers will have their eyes set on getting the hat-trick of All-Irelands in 2017 and have every chance of dancing their way to victory once more. 

REPORT: Brein McGinn