Hip hop dance crew make it to Sky semis

Updated: Wednesday, 20th January, 2010 4:45pm

A jubilent 'Raw Edge Crew' who will represent Ireland on 31st January in 'Got to Dance' on Sky TV. From left are Ciara Moran, Rachel Murphy, 'Sly', Martin Jazzin, Donna Moran, 'G', Matthew Williamson, Aidean Byrne and Adrian Waldeck.

Local hip hop dance crew Raw Edge have made it through to the live show semi-finals of popular dance competition 'Got To Dance' which has been showing on Sky 1 television over the past few weeks.

The crew are all instructers from Jacinta Cassidy's Fit Kids/Fit Teens Dance Club which holds classes in Navan, Kells, Trim, Athboy, Ratoath, Ashbourne, Laytown, Drogheda, Dunboyne and Clonee.

Ms Cassidy, who is from Mornington, said: "After weeks of being sworn to secrecy, the Raw Edge crew can scream in excitement and delight as they tell the people of Ireland that they will be representing them on Sunday 31st January in the live show semi-finals of 'Got to Dance'. Even their students from Fit Kids/Fit Teens Dance Club had to wait until last Sunday's programme to see their instructors battle it out to take the final place in the semi-finals with a chance of winning Stg£100,000 in the grand final, which will be held on St Valentine's Day."

Raw Edge are the only Irish act to reach the live shows and delighted judge Ashley Banjo from Diversity (winners of 'Britain's Got Talent'), Kimberly Wyatt (of the Pussycat Dolls) and Adam Garcia (Coyote Ugly). Out of thousands of 'hopefuls', only 18 acts made it to the live shows.

The Raw Edge Crew made up of Rachel Murphy from Trim, Ciara Moran, Donna Moran, Adrian Waldeck, Sly Sode and Matthew Williamson and first bounced onto TV screens when they wowed Shane Lynch who mentored them on last year's All-Ireland Talent Show on RTE.

Since then, they have added outstanding new dancers Martin Jazzin, Aidean Byrne and 'G'. They have also made appearances on 'Podge and Rodge', 'Ballet Chancers' and recently 'The Apprentice', as well as representing Ireland in The World Hip Hop Championships in the USA and the Breakdance Championships in Germany.

The crew have also coached their young students from Fit Kids/Fit Teens to victory in the The All-Ireland Hip Hop/Breakdance Championships with their creative choreography.

Fit Kids/Fit Teens founder Jacinta Cassidy couldn't be prouder of the crew. Having taught some of them since they were three years-old, they fondly call her 'Mother Edge'.

"They are such talented and dynamic dancers. They are an inspiration to the young people who flock to the weekly dance classes. This is the opportunity of a lifetime for them and they so deserve it. They are always so proud to represent Ireland," she said.

However, the crew's triumph is tinged though with the sadness that one of its founding members, Rachel Murphy, will not be taking to the stage on 31st January after being injured in a car crash.

Rachel will, however, be cheering from the wings as her crew try to win the hearts of the British and Irish public for the all-important votes.