We always see an influx of new dance students when ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ is on the television, or after Christmas when people decide they want to do that something that they’ve always meant to do. but never quite got around to it.

From the first time we start to toddle about as youngsters we learn to move our bodies in time to music.  We often don’t know that’s what we’re doing, but think back to when you learnt your ABCs or 123s – how many of you learnt to music with words and body actions?  What, you don’t remember – what about ‘The wheels on the bus go round and round….’ Or ‘Hickory Dickory Dock, the mouse ran up the clock.’  The majority of us learnt basic language, life skills and stories through words, music and action. 

Dancing is moving your body in time music and telling a story as you go.  It’s why people are so attracted to dance and get pleasure from watching it.  It’s my belief that everyone can learn to dance; not everyone is going to be an Anton Du Beke or Karen Hardy, but everyone can dance to their own level, and find great pleasure in doing so. 

Thirty or Forty years ago, dancing was the main social outlet – we didn’t have the amazing internet, social media and entertainment opportunities through film and television then, so to meet other people you went to a dance!   It’s where the majority of friendships began, and indeed many of those are still going strong as I can tell from those who return to dancing after many years. That shared experience is a great bond and not all dance partners are life partners, just as not all gym buddies or sports people are either.

Interestingly, dance is sometimes seen a being a girly thing and the guys are dragged along under protest. However, dancing is fast becoming not just something for the girls; there are now more boys than girls graduating in ballet for instance. For the first time in its 60-year history, Canada’s National Ballet School has graduated more male than female students! And I’ve seen this in classes too, the guys who are dragged along claiming to have two left feet and only there because their partner wants to do it, or the wedding couples where the Groom is terrified of making a fool of himself – trust me, once these guys get a taste for what they can achieve they always enjoy the experience, and want more.