The empowering idea behind one breakdancing summer camp

A dance school has created a breakdancing camp to "raise the aspirations" of young people.

Between 5 and 9 August, Body Politics ran its annual summer camp at performing arts centre Pegasus in East Oxford, with funding by Oxfordshire County Council.

Along with creative activities, it provides free school meals to children aged 7-11, some of whom come from low-income families in the city.

Artistic director Em-J Greig said that was "super important" as it broke down barriers to participation.

"We're able to provide hot meals for young people that perhaps aren't getting [any] at home," she said.

Ms Greig said they offered activities such as hip-hop dancing and screen printing with charity Fusion Arts.

She said the sessions taught "more than just the dance".

"It's about the confidence, empowering young people to be creative, make new friends, and what those social bonds allow these young people to do later on," she said.

"And at the end of the week they get to perform some of their moves on the Pegasus Theatre stage, with friends and family coming to watch them."

Professional breakdancer from Birmingham Jamaal O'Driscoll delivered a masterclass for the camp.

"That's what I enjoy - to try and share something I have loved for many years with young people," he said.

He explained that breaking as a dance had been made by kids from New York, aged between 12 to 16.

"It's about them being playful and finding themselves," Mr O'Driscoll said.

"And it's not about being perfect, it's about being the best person you can be."

Some of the participants said they had never done breakdancing before.

"When I was about 5, I saw some TV shows where people were doing breakdancing and I thought 'I like that', so I started trying to do it," said seven-year-old Otto.

Breakdancing made its debut at the Paris Games which was been exciting news for both the teachers and their students.

Ms Greig said it was a "really important moment for the culture to be up there on the main stage."