Positive moves, Tru Streetdance launches Dance + Business an inspirational project designed shape the dance entrepreneurs of the future.

Tru Streetdance based in Birmingham have recently secured funding from the Youth Leadership Fund to run an inspirational new programme to train 8 young talented dancers to become the dance professionals and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. The programme will run for 9 months until July 2010 enabling the lucky 8 to gain practical business experiencing running a dance company as well as obtaining an Arts Award qualification.

Ikeela Sealey founded Tru Streedance in the summer of 1999 with a clear vision to raise the profile of street dancing and provide a wealth of opportunities for the Birmingham youth. Ikeela Sealey aka Toffee designed the programme to engage young people across Birmingham offering them direction and opportunity within the dance industry.

Not only will these young people get the opportunity to perfect their art through practice and dance performances they will also get the opportunity to learn the business side of the dance industry through hands on experience helping to run Sticky Toffee Ltd a full service dance company. Toffee says ‘It’s not just about creating brilliant dancers - it's about running a business and creating young entrepreneurs to continue my work.’

The vision of this project does not stop there, Toffee is keen to promote what she calls the ‘ripple effect’ encouraging the young people she will train and mentor to pass on what they learn to other young people ensuring that young leaders are natured and mentored for many years to come. Elijah Hunter one of the 8 dance apprentice excited by this new opportunity says ‘I hope to one day run the Tru Streetdance Academy’. This hope and aspiration embodies the vision of the Dance + Business project. The Youth of Today Youth Leadership Fund has made this vision a reality, endorsing young and inspirational leadership across the UK.

Contact Ikeela Sealey at Tru Streetdance, Telephone: 0121 0108 737

Email: info@stickytoffeedance.com

Visit www.trustreetdance.com and www.theyouthoftoday.org for more information.