Where did it all begin? Dance lessons to 'Dance Floor Heroes'

April 23, 2024

A few nights ago, I had a really vivid dream...

I was back in the Elliott School of Dance in Rock Ferry,  where I had my very first ballet and tap lessons at the age of 6. It was a bit weird as I was an adult in my dream, but Miss Elliott and her pianist Mrs Collier were still the same age as I remembered them (I recall thinking how well they'd aged...) 

I've thought about Miss Elliott a lot since I started at Silver Swans last year - certain exercises, certain steps, certain music transport me back to those days over 50 years ago, when I wanted to take part in every dance class that I could. I never questioned whether or not I was good at it, I just loved it. Lessons, competitions, shows - even exams! - I enjoyed it all. 

I think I was about 16 when I started to lose my confidence a bit. A disappointing exam result and a throwaway comment about my hip size are two things that stick in my mind. along with a growing awareness of my shortcomings in some elements. I wanted to go into higher education and had opportunities to choose between courses including dance and others which were purely music (which was my other passion). In the end, I chose music - which meant I had to focus on that to get the grades I needed to carry on with my studies. And so my dance lessons ended. I did join the Ballroom Dancing Society during my first year at Lancaster University (although I had to give it up when it clashed with choir practise), but aside from that and a brief dabble into tap dancing lessons in my 30s, I thought my dancing days were over. 

Fast forward to 2004, and a new telly programme called 'Strictly Come Dancing' came to BBC One. As a mum of a toddler (and with another baby on the way during Series 2) this was a welcome bit of grown-up viewing after spending most of the week watching CBeebies! I was hooked straight away; of course I loved the dancing, the band, the singers, the judges and the sparkles, but I was most drawn by watching non-dancers finding their dancing feet and achieving amazing things over the course of the series. Although I didn't really have time to think about it much while my boys were small, over the years I did start to think how amazing it would be to have that experience and get the chance to dance like that. But Strictly is just for celebrities, isn't it?

And so, to now. As I've got older, I've felt more drawn to the things I loved so much when I was younger, and to creative and artistic activities in general. Starting with joining a choir for the first time in years, which has led to the formation of Women Rockin' Harmony Choirs® with my business partner Tanya Lawrence, I've found I've become more confident to have a go at things I like without worrying about what other people think of me. That confidence boost led me to sign up for Silver Swans, which I'd thought about for years but didn't feel brave enough to try. 

And the confidence I developed from my Silver Swans classes has brought me to Dance Floor Heroes!

If you'd like to support my fundraising efforts. please visit my JustGiving page here.

Next time - find out about the fun I had with the application process!

* UPDATE: Since I published this post, I've connected with a group on Facebook created by one of my fellow pupils back in the day! I can't believe my luck at being able to make contact with people who shared that special time with me. Thanks to my friend Suzanne for connecting me, and to Alison who set up the group.

I'm taking my chance by entering 'Dance Floor Heroes'