Ten young performing artists have won the right to dance at the opening of an international Hip Hop jam session tomorrow night.

The youngsters five girls and five boys ? all aged between 14 and 17 ? ?dance battled? their way through stiff competition over the past weeks to gain a place in the HOTT 107.5 Number One Jam for the Shorties.

The event, which also features international Hip Hop artists Teefa and Mario, takes place tomorrow evening at the Bermuda College gymnasium, beginning at 5 p.m.

One performer who will be hitting centre-stage tomorrow, Carling Ray, spoke to about how she managed to become the tenth dancer in the event.

Miss Ray, 16, said she decided to audition for a place in the show because she is always looking for a new challenge.

In the original audition there was a tie between herself and Jacobia Dunn, another good dancer, so Ms Ray and Ms Dunn were invited to ?dance-off? for the a spot in the limelight.

A coin was flipped for who would begin first and, as in the the film ?You Got Served?, the battle soon began.

?I had never battled before, but last summer while attending the Debbie Allen Dance Academy?s Summer Dance Intensive, I did get the opportunity to see a dance battle at the studio,? said Miss Ray.

?I also saw the movie ?You Got Served?, which was about Hip Hop dance-battling.

?When the music started playing ? I just started moving. And when the music changed, it was Jacobia?s turn and so forth.

?I must say, I had a lot of fun. (I) thought that it was great to have something like this take place in the community were people can come and have positive fun for free.?

The volume and intensity of the audience?s cheers was used to determine the winner and Ms Ray earned the most spectator approval.

?Thankfully, I was the lucky winner,? she said.

Bermuda College curricular activities co-ordinator Gina Spence-Farmer said the dance competitions were organised through a collaboration of HOTT 107.5 interns and College students.

Looking at the success of the dance-offs and dance-battle competitions so far, Mrs. Spence-Farmer said: ?It speaks to the fact that, if given the opportunity, young people will shine.

?I think that the success of the entire project was based on the fact that it was student-driven and they were given the opportunity to co-ordinate, choreograph and set the stage.?

The best of the best from the dance off competitions will be showing off their moves tomorrow night.