Dancing students in search of glory.

SOME of the best breakdancers in Britain will be battling it out in Newcastle this weekend.

Students at Northumbria University are hosting for the first time the national university breakdancing competition tomorrow.

More than 300 spectators are expected at The Venue, based in Northumbria University's Student Union on the City Campus, to watch 16 dance crews from a dozen universities compete for the UK Championship.

Breakdance is a street dance style that evolved as part of the hip hop movement in the USA during the early 1970s, but is now a global competitive phenomenon. The competing breakdance crews at the championships are made up of five to eight members each. Universities that are represented include Northumbria, Newcastle, Kings College London, Birmingham, Reading, Edinburgh, Swansea, Warwick and Sheffield.

Northumbria architecture student Fabian Danker is president of Newcastle Breakdancing Society, which has organised the event along with Raw-B, a member of Bad Taste Cru, who teaches classes at the society.

Fabian, 21, said: "We're expecting to draw a big crowd. "

Quantity surveying student Sarah Hudson, 23, also a member of the Northumbria Unversity society, said: "I've always wanted to do breakdance. I used to do tap, ballet and jazz when I was younger, but this is very different."

Newcastle University student Andrew Ringer, 26, who will compete with the Northumbria University crew, believes "it should be a lot of fun".

The contest runs from 1pm to 7pm.

Tickets, priced pounds 6, can be bought in advance at The Welcome Desk of Northumbria Student Union, or pay at the door.

The Newcastle society meets three times a week and Fabian said: Breakdancing is great for exercise and also for building up confidence."

CAPTION(S):

COMPETING Breakdancing students (from left) Fabian Danker, Andrew Ringer and Sarah Hudson.