Britain's Got Talent stars are Flava of month with Blackburn students (From Blackburn Citizen)

Britain's Got Talent stars are Flava of month with Blackburn students

5:31pm Friday 3rd October 2008 in News By Ben Briggs

WORKSHOP: Witton pupils Annalise Donnelly and Emily Williams with Flava’s Sarah Pearce-Mariner and Kyle Richardson

BLACKBURN pupils learned that hoodies can be goodies during a visit from a street dance group from Britain’s Got Talent.

Flava, a seven-piece urban dance outfit from Cornwall, entertained children at Blake water College, Shadsworth, and Witton Park High School, Buncer Lane, yesterday, in sessions organised by the Police Community Safety Partnership.

The group, which appeared on the ITV show last series, did a number of dance routines for the children before getting them involved in a dance workshop.

Kyle Richardson, 18, founded Flava four-years-ago and said they were an example of youths doing something good for community, as opposed the negative image associated with gangs of teenagers wearing hoodies.

He said: “We hope we can be a role model for the pupils. We show that youngsters can achieve things if they focus on doing something they like.”

At Witton, Flava arrived on stage to deafening screams from pupils and proceeded to wow them with their dance moves. The dancers were kitted out in white hooded tops, black pants and even masks at the start of the routine.

The group performed to a hip-hop tune that had been mixed with quotes from the blockbuster movie, The Matrix, and then answered questions from the pupils who were sat in front of the stage.

Emily Williams, 15, said: “It’s great to have them here. I think it’s a good thing they are showing teenagers aren't always trouble makers.”

Deputy head Diane Atkinson added: “The excitement among the pupils is like an explosion.

“What Flava are doing helps promote a positive image.”

PC Paul Schofield, who helped organise the event, said it was important to send a positive message to youngsters that they could achieve their goals.

He said: “Flava coming here is a really positive thing and it’s the kind of thing that youngsters are looking at and they can relate to them. It shows that they can aspire to something good.”