STREET dance has never been more popular.

The blockbuster American film series Step Up (the third film will be released later this summer) started the craze, but the Britain’s Got Talent success of George Sampson, Diversity and Flawless have made it just as prominent on this side of the Atlantic.

They all cameo in StreetDance 3D, a new British film which looks set to continue the trend, having reached number one at the box office on its opening weekend.

The film’s heroine, London shop assistant Carly (Nichola Burley) dreams of winning the UK Championships with her street dance crew.

But when their choreographer, her boyfriend Jay (Ukweli Roach), leaves the group and her, she struggles to keep them motivated and find a rehearsal space.

Ballet school instructor Helena (Charlotte Rampling) offers them her practice room– on one condition. She has to include some of Helena’s pupils in her routine, in the hope that it will inject passion into their dancing.

Inevitably, the two groups hate each other and struggle to overcome their differences to win the competition – while Carly finds a new love interest in the form of ballet student Tomas (Richard Winsor.) There are no surprises in the simple and very familiar plot, but it is a pleasure to see how lovingly the film is put together.

The youthful, trendy soundtrack pulses with hip hop, R&B and electro music from N-Dubz, Chipmunk, Pixie Lott, Cheryl Cole and Tinie Tempah, but instead of feeling intrusively over-scored it suits the film’s vibrant atmosphere.

The acting is a little stilted, but the regular dance sequences are stunning, especially in 3D (StreetDance is the first British film to be shot entirely in 3D), and there’s some elegant cinematography in the shots of London and the ballet school.

StreetDance 3D is worth seeing for an infectiously exuberant introduction to the world of street dance. Who knows, it might even inspire audiences to start their own crew… 7/10