City boy is a body popper prodigy

Aug 23 2007 By Poppy Brady, Birmingham Mail

REMEMBER the name Curtis Stanley - it's one Birmingham will be hearing about in the future.

The talented 11-year-old is representing his country in the world street dancing championships, and hopes one day to move into acting.

It looks like the world is his stage as Curtis limbers up for the world championships in Bremen, Germany, in October.

But before he takes on the world, the schoolboy has another street dance championship closer to home in Blackpool this weekend which could secure him an international title.

Proud mum Sharon Walker, of Finchley Road, Kingstanding, said: "Curtis is a born performer and has loved dancing ever since he was little.

"Along with his 14-year-old brother Jordan, he's been involved in several productions at the Old Rep theatre including Fiddler on the Roof and Snow White.

"The street dancing came out of his love for hip hop and we just took it from there.

"For the world championships in Germany, he was the youngest competing for a place in the under 16 category. It keeps him really fit."

Sharon added: "A lot of Curtis's success is down to his coach Lotty Cunningham, who launched the Streets Ahead dance club in Streetly.

"She started with just five or six dancers and now has more than 200."

Curtis, who has just left Kingstanding Primary School and is about to start at Cardinal Wiseman Technical College, also plays for an under-12s football team based in Kingstanding called Building Futures.

The club is helping to sponsor him, but more financial help is needed for the trip to Germany.

Anyone who can help is urged to contact coach Lotty on 07835 287191.