Pupils storm Clayhall stage with cultural spectacular

BREAK-DANCING teenagers and singing sixth formers brought the house down as a school celebrated its annual multicultural day.

Hands clapped and screams of approval rang out around the hall at Caterham High School Caterham Avenue, Clayhall, as dozens of youngsters took to the stage.

Under the name Caterham’s Got Culture, pupils entertained their peers – and helped raise hundreds of pounds for charity.

The young performers were selected after X Factor-style auditions were held to select the most gifted.

Under the guidance of the sixth formers – who organised the event – dancers, singers and musicians rehearsed for their moment in the spotlight.

A fashion show was also held as costumes from all four corners of the world were brought out on stage.

Nighat Akhtar, deputy head of sixth form at Caterham High, said: “It was a fantastic show and everyone had great fun. There was such a broad spectrum of performances.

“It’s a really good way of bringing the whole school together and celebrating everyone’s culture.

“It’s also great to give them the chance to organise an event like that themselves.

“The sixth formers learned a lot from it and it’s an excellent thing to say they’ve done.”

Organisers raised �500 for charity Save the Children during last week’s performance, and they hope selling a DVD of the event will bring in even more money.

Highlights from the evening included freestyle dancing using the dhol drum, Indian salsa dancing, a fashion show and a rendition of A Moment Like This by Taranjeet Chumber.

Shahhan Spall – who also hosted the 90-minute show with Pelagia Nyamayaro – mesmerised the audience by break-dancing and Valeria Macedo sang her version of Beyonce’s Listen.