Meet the Littlehampton dancer who is taking the US by storm

BEATING the likes of pop legends Rihanna and Madonna was something that Littlehampton dancer Kerry Smith could never have dreamt of achieving.

But that is exactly what the 22-year-old dance teacher, from Selborne Road, has done after the music video she featured in topped the US dance charts this month.

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Kerry, who teaches hip-hop and street dance to young people from across Littlehampton, Worthing and Chichester, appeared in the latest music video for British-born rapper, Dretonio, entitled Now Everybody Stand In Line.

The anthem, which is tipped to be one of the unofficial tunes for England’s Euro 2012 football campaign next month, has already seen more than 31,000 club and radio DJs download the song, beating the likes of Rhianna and Madonna, as well as racking up more than 500,000 views on YouTube.

Kerry, who performs with the Syncronize Crew, a dance troupe based in Hampshire, was only one of a handful to feature in the video.

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She said: “It’s been such an incredible experience. I still can’t believe it.

“We recorded the video in January, but since then it’s just snowballed. We never expected it would be such a hit in the US.

“It’s been a complete blur. I’m really excited about where this could lead us and Dretonio!”

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The song, which is set for general release at the end of the month, is attracting growing media attention in the UK, featuring on both ITV Meridian news and ITV London, as well as in several newspapers from across the country.

Although rejected by the FA as the official anthem for England’s 2012 campaign, the song is now tipped to be the next Three Lions.

Speaking to the Gazette on Thursday, up-and-coming Hampshire-based rapper, Dretonio – real name Andre Sinclair – praised Kerry and her dance group for their performance.

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He said: “The girls from Syncronize were fantastic to work with. The dance routine is really catchy and easy to pick up and goes brilliantly with the song.”

Kerry, who studied GCSE dance at the former Littlehampton Community School, has been teaching for more than five years.

She is the founder and head dance teacher at the WannaDo children’s club, based at Angmering Community Centre, in Foxwood Avenue.

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She also leads classes with Razzamataz and Body Shock, in Littlehampton, and has performed with Pineapple Dance Studios, in London.

Kerry runs a variety of dance classes with WannaDo from hip-hop and street, to cheer. She also holds special drama workshops.

For more information about classes and special summer programmes, visit www.wanna-do.co.uk or ring 07846 046340.

To view the music video, log into Youtube and search, “Now Everybody Stand in Line”.