Spare Time

It was a world away from the experiences of many of the group, several of whom come from troubled pasts.

But with the help of the Barking and Dagenham Youth Dance (BDYD) they've been able to turn their negative experiences into positive ones through dance.

BDYD offers underprivileged young people the opportunity to experience good quality dance classes, and aims to help guide them into further education and ultimately, employment.

Before joining the group Christina was in trouble at school and getting involved in fights.

"I was hanging around with a really bad crowd. They were doing things that my mum didn't approve of ... and it resulted in me having a fight [where] ... I ended up in hospital"

She's now been with BDYD for just over two years, and credits it with turning her life around.

"It's helped me realise if I can succeed in dancing I can succeed in anything else, and that's what I'm doing"

She recently choreographed and performed a piece apologising to her mother for the trouble she got into in the past.

"I performed for her...then [said] I'm sorry...she was crying...and I knew that everything that I'd done before has been washed away, and I don't have to worry about [it] anymore".

Christina is now looking forward to studying law at University and travelling the world.

Georgina Alexiou, who runs the group, say she hopes to give the teens the opportunity to perform in the west end. She hopes expanding their experiences will help them broaden the horizons.