How it All Began
"Dancing in the Street!"
It all started during the COVID lockdown, when my one of my elderly neighbours told me how much she was missing physical activity. I suggested we do some exercise outside in the street, socially-distanced of course. She stood at the end of her drive, and I stood at the end of mine! Other people soon joined in and before long there was a street full of people all singing and dancing in the street, and keeping themselves fit, healthy, and happy!
It soon became the highlight of our day, we came out at 11 o'clock every morning from March until September, come rain or come shine! Word spread and it captured a lot of media attention. We appeared on many of the main TV channels including, ITV, Sky News, BBC News, and many more. Camera crews descended on our street, journalists conducted interviews with my neighbours, and articles popped up all around the world. It was a crazy time!
"Good Neighbours Become Good Friends!"
We became neighbours in the truest sense of the word, getting to know one another and building a sense of community spirit, which up until then had not really existed. I am happy to say that the community spirit has lasted, long after lockdown. We know our neighbours; we stop to chat, help one another out when needed and several times a year we come together in the street, raising money for charity, holding coffee mornings and cakes sales, and of course singing and dancing!
"Let the Music Play On!"
From these street-dancing sessions, came the idea for my Gentle Keep Fit classes. Simple movements that everyone can follow, set to fun uplifting tunes that everyone knows and loves. The classes continue to have at the heart of them the aim of bringing people together for fun, fitness, and enjoyment.