Broadcaster Angela Rippon joins York St John University students for community dance work

Students in the 2nd year of their Drama: Education and Community BA (Hons) course at York St John University were joined by broadcaster Angela Rippon CBE as part of a community project celebrating dancing. 
 
Angela, who runs a national campaign called Let's Dance, aimed at promoting the health benefits of dance, joined students on placement with Dancing for Well-Being, a local not-for-profit community organisation. 
 
The students have been working alongside Nicola Forshaw, Senior Lecturer with the School of the Arts at York St John, who leads the dance sessions for older people in the Harrogate area.  

The organisation is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year, offering weekly dance sessions to over 200 people.   
 
As part of Let’s Dance, a national campaign to inspire everyone in the UK to embrace dance as a way to improve their health, its founder, Angela Rippon CBE, visited the group during one of their meetings to see the work being done with older residents. While there, she joined in some dancing, as well as staying for tea and cake. 
 
“We aim to bring people together through dance sessions that are accessible to older people with varying ranges of mobility,” said Nicola. 
 
“It is about fun, not form and most importantly to offer a fun, meaningful physical activity that connects people who may otherwise feel isolated. 

“The students learn how to create dances, select music and eventually facilitate a full session for their assessment. They build important relationships and get an in-depth understanding of the social issues faced by our elderly population in the UK." 
 
Megan Davies, one of the students at York St John University who has been working with the group, said: "I have really loved doing my placement at Dancing for Well-Being. It has shown me how important it is doing work in communities, and it has been lovely to see how it positively affects the members in the group." 
 
Judy Methven, a Dancing for Well-Being member for 7 years, said the students brought “enthusiasm, fun and modern music and choreography” to the group’s sessions.  
 
“The students engage with the members of the class, bringing youth and exuberance - and hopefully enlarge their own experience from communicating with the elderly,” said Judy.  

“It is a real 2-way meeting of experience and common interest." 
 
A video of Angela Rippon’s visit can be found on the Dancing for Well-Being’s YouTube website.  
 
Read Nicola Forshaw’s Dancing for Well-Being Evaluation Report. 
 
Find out more about studying Drama: Education and Community at York St John University.