ONCE upon a time the kids , armed with a piece of lino and a boom box, used to congregate in grotty car parks or in community centres for impromptu and particularly amateur breakdancing sessions. These days, street dance wins you �100,000 and is watched

ONCE upon a time "the kids", armed with a piece of lino and a boom box, used to congregate in grotty car parks or in community centres for impromptu and particularly amateur breakdancing sessions. These days, street dance wins you �100,000 and is watched by millions on TV and online.

I'm talking, of course, about Essex boys Diversity, and their recent breathtaking Britain's Got Talent victory.

Now if your dance moves are spot on and your choreography is tight, you can headline big club events, too.

A new night at Matter at The O2, North Greenwich, on June 25, will be the biggest fusion of dance and music in the UK, featuring a top line-up of artists and DJs and some of the most talented dance crews around.

Dance Off pairs up music and dance in an audio-visual feast of the highest standard.

Highlights will include performances from beatboxer Killa Kela, urban DJs Ironik, Yoda, Manny Norte and World DMC Champions Shiftee (US) and Switch (UK), performing a special four turntable battle.

Dance performers will include the likes of D-Clash and Boy Blue, while a Bonnie & Clyde battle will see teams of paired dancers (one male and one female) - under the break/ bboy style banner - compete in a tournament format.

More exciting names from both the DJ and dance world will be announced over the coming weeks and members of both Diversity and Flawless, the other street dance troupe in the BTG final, are expected to attend.

A spokesman for the event told the Recorder: "Dance Off will satisfy the public's insatiable appetite for street dance performance and it will cleverly be married up with music to create a cutting edge and action-packed show."

Doors are 9pm - late and tickets are �12 in advance from www.dance-off.com or �15 on the door.

- MATT TROLLOPE