Wycombe dance group out to conquer the world (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Wycombe dance group out to conquer the world

3:28pm Tuesday 30th June 2009 in

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THE bright lights and glitz of Las Vegas is the next stop for a fledgeling hip-hop group as it continues on its quest to be named the best in the world.

The group, called Toyboxx, is off to America next month to take part in the 2009 World Hip Hop Dance Championships.

Not bad going considering it was only formed in September.

Toyboxx is based in Watford, but was co-founded by Stephen Tavender, 21, of Holmer Green, and includes Sammi Grover, 19, of Great Kingshill and Lara Baker,19, of Little Kingshill.

The group, aged between 17 and 28, won the chance to compete against dance groups from across the globe earlier this year at the UK Hip Hip Crew Dance Championships, held in March at the Colosseum in Watford.

Sammi said the achievement had made the group more determined than ever.

She said: “We’re extremely proud. We didn’t even think we were going to get anywhere in the UK championships.

“Now we’re going to Vegas we have got to make it happen.”

The group, aged between 17 and 28 is 15-strong, but only eight members will be making the trio to Las Vegas.

The eager members have already booked flights and a hotel just a short distance from the legendary Las Vegas strip, but is now trying to recoup its costs with a series of performances, including some at Watford shopping centres.

Sammi said: “Everyone’s amazed because most groups have been training with each other for years. Everyone’s really worked together as a team and everyone’s really supportive.”

Sammi said she has been dancing hip-hop for five years, after starting her training with Wycombe’s own Urban Strides group.

So when two of Sammi’s best friends set about organising Toyboxx it seemed natural for her to join up too.

She said: “We dance to a mix of things really. It’s mainly hip-hop music but sometimes we do themes, like a Great Britain set.”

And for Sammi it is another step on the way to realising her dream of becoming a professional dancer.

She said: “Hopefully we’ll be successful in the world championship but even if not, everything brings opportunities.

“We just want to get more people involved with dancing and inspire them in the way we have been inspired by the best groups in London. We want to become one of the dance acts people look up to.”

Sammi said she listed Boy Blue, Flawless and Dance2XS as being among the dance acts which have inspired her.

She currently attends the Urdang Dance Academy in London – a dream of hers since she was young.

And she said even if the worst were to happen in Las Vegas, Sammi said the group would get a decent consolation prize to soften the blow until the next big competition.

She said: “Even if we won’t make it through the preliminaries we’ve got another nine days to have fun and soak up the sun.”