Take a look at Hartlepool's first dedicated street dance studio set to open this weekend

The new Ruff Diamond Academy in Osborne Road is holding at an open day this Sunday.

Zac Healey has painstakingly added extra facilities to the studio in Walmsley Hall such as upgrading the flooring, adding a viewing window, and a wall of mirrors.

He has also built waiting facilities and put in professional grade speakers and people can see it for themselves on Sunday as long as they book in advance

Two free taster classes are planned. One is at noon for younger people (in the four to 10 age range) and the second at 1pm is for 11-plus years.

Zac said: “We want this to be a home for the dance community of Hartlepool and not just street dance.”

Zac and his fellow members of the Ruff Diamond street crew hit the headlines in 2013 when they performed their way to the grand finals of the Got To Dance show on Sky TV.

It led to other great triumphs for the crew.

That same year, Ruff Diamond picked up a special recognition honour at the Best of Hartlepool Awards. They also appeared in front of 11million viewers on the Children in Need TV sho.

In 2014, the crew was crowned UK adult hip hop champions and came 16th in the World Hip Hop Championships in Las Vegas.

In 2015, Zac won both the young performer and the choreographer categories at the Carl Alan Awards in Blackpool, following in the footsteps of previous winners including Bruce Forsyth, Darcey Bussell, Wayne Sleep, Roy Castle and Freda Compton.

Zac said: “I’m delighted to continue the legacy of the crew. It is the first studio dedicated to street dancing but there will be other styles of classes. It will be predominantly street dance but we want to offer something for everyone.”

Zac said he had used his years of travelling the world to take inspiration for the studio. “We want to create facilities of the same standard you would see in big cities round the UK."

To book for the open day, visit the Ruff Diamond page on Instagram or email [email protected]

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