Unity YouthUnity and Unity Youth has qualified for the IDO World Street Dance Championships, qualifying for the World Championships in Germany in September.

The World Selection for the International Dance Organisation (IDO, or Streetdance International) took place yesterday at Goresbrook, Essex.

Bismark Anobah of Unity won the over 16s open solos; Robbie Riordan of Unity Youth placed 3rd in the under 12s open solos; Lydia Riordan and Tia Anderson won the over 16s open pairs, and Rhea Thompson-Williams and Connor Tidman placed 2nd in the over 16S open pairs.

Tashan Muir, founder and choreographer of Unity said: “I’m happy – the whole reason I made the youth group was to keep the legacy of Unity going on. After two years it looks like they’re already making their mark.”

Unity (senior) has won the IDO UK title twice before in 2007 and 2008 and won the world title once.

“If they win the World Championships again with the solos and duets it’d be amazing,” Tashan continued. “Maybe two or three years down the line another Unity troupe can win it. It’s amazing to know we can compete against the world’s best teams in another county. Whatever the results we can bring back good memories and a good experience.”

As well as competing locally and internationally, Unity were finalists on Move Like Michael Jackson in December 2009 and performed their hip hop theatre set Venus vs Mars Pt 2 to critical acclaim at Breakin’ Convention 2010. Unity Youth has appeared on Got To Dance in January.