Following the glittering 5x60 Dance Evolution festival in the Grand Theatre two weeks ago, local schools are now preparing to showcase their street dancing skills to the max at the Swansea Show in Singleton this weekend.

Dylan Thomas School took the title at the dance festival while Gowerton Comprehensive School came a close second in Swansea’s first big street dance festival involving around 200 pupils aged between 11 and 16 years old. Now, the troupes are gearing up to impress once again.

The dance sessions at both Dylan Thomas and Gowerton School started as a result of the 5x60 extra-curricular initiative, a Welsh Assembly Government scheme managed by the Sports Council for Wales, aimed at getting young people in secondary schools in Wales more active more often.

During year one in 2006, thirty-nine schools were involved in the 5x60 programme and as the bell tolled on the start of the new 2007/2008 term, a further 86 schools hopped on board and are now fully operational. During 2008’s spring term alone, more than 8,000 5x60 sessions took place – an increase of nearly 3000 on the autumn term.

There are 5x60 officers working in every local authority in Wales to deliver the programme and significant process is taking place up and down the country. One of the officers making a considerable difference is Sarah McCoubrey who works at both Dylan Thomas and Gowerton School.

Gowerton School got the ball rolling two years ago as one of the 5x60 pilot projects across Wales. Sarah has managed to kick-start a badminton club, a cheerleading class, an intra-school football club, a five-a-side football league, a girl’s football team, a breakdancing and streetdance club as well as surfing, baseball, kayaking and netball sessions.

Sarah – who was appointed in February this year - explains:

"The ultimate aim of this initiative is to encourage those pupils who don’t take part in sport to get active and to allow pupils to enjoy activities which they might not have otherwise had the chance to experience. Not everybody wants to play rugby, football or netball - but this way, everyone gets a chance to play and keep fit at the same time."

Proving the most popular activity among girls in Wales is dance which features right at the top of the league table while football, fitness and cheerleading are also favoured. Meanwhile, boys tend to swerve towards dodge-ball but they also beat a path to the football pitch and the basketball court.

For more information on the Swansea Show, visit www.swanseashow.com The cost of a family ticket is £15, £5 for a standard ticket and £3 for concessions.