On Sunday 2 March, thousands of people around the country put on their dancing shoes for the first National Dance Day as part of Angela Rippon CBE’s Let’s Dance! campaign, supported by the Sport and Recreation Alliance.
In a variety of settings, with over 400 sessions registered to take place across the United Kingdom – from schools to studios and care homes to city centres – people got moving and felt the enormous physical and mental health benefits of dance.
The Alliance has been delighted to support the Let’s Dance! campaign, and highlight the immense benefits of movement and dance. The campaign is a fantastic showcase for a report we published in 2023 – The Social Value of Movement and Dance – which demonstrates the huge untapped potential of movement and dance in society. Indeed, throughout the campaign, Angela Rippon CBE and others have made reference to the 2.7 million fewer GP and psychotherapy visits made per year as a result of participation in movement and dance – which is one of the headline findings from the report.
We were also delighted to join Angela Rippon CBE and her Strictly Come Dancing partner, Kai Widdrington, alongside Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP, in his constituency – Ilford North – as he attended a dance class. At the event, which was held at Redbridge Sports Centre on Friday 28 February, the Secretary of State saw firsthand the benefits of dance for fitness, and took the opportunity to join in.
Plenty of members from across the Alliance’s Movement and Dance division played a vital role in driving the campaign forward, and were among the hundreds of organisations to open their doors on 2 March. The National Association of Teachers of Dancing’s Northern area were joined by Strictly Come Dancing’s Luba Mushtuk in Dukinfield for a special event, while the Royal Academy of Dance were joined at their headquarters by Angela Rippon CBE and Kai Widdrington as they showcased a variety of dance styles, to name but a couple.
Lisa Wainwright MBE, CEO of the Sport and Recreation Alliance said:
“It was incredible to see the scale and breadth of events on display on 2 March, which is testament to both the passion Angela has brought to spearheading the campaign and the hard work of all the dance teachers and instructors, including many from our Movement and Dance Division, who made the day such a success.
"The Alliance will continue to support the Let’s Dance! campaign and ensure this complements our broader mission to foster a more active, healthier nation; making it easier for everyone – regardless of age or background – to participate in sport, recreation, dance and physical activity and in doing so, provide significant economic and social value to the country."
Angela Rippon CBE paid tribute to the power of dance, and to the organisations behind the campaign:
“As the founder and ambassador of Let’s Dance!, the UK’s first national dance movement, I’m overwhelmed by the incredible teamwork and dedication that has brought this vision to life. From the /together coalition and the Sport and Recreation Alliance to every dance teacher and organisation across the country, your support has been nothing short of extraordinary. Together, we’ve shown the transformative power of dance – not just for physical and mental health, but for bringing people together and inspiring those who might not usually dance to give it a go. I’m still in awe of what we’ve achieved, and I’m so proud to see this mission come to life.”
Secretary of State, Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP said:
“Angela is dancing up a storm to support this Government’s mission to rebuild the NHS and shift care from sickness to prevention.”
“Through our 10 Year Health Plan we will build a healthy society. And even if you’ve got two left feet, brilliant initiatives like Angela’s are a great way to keep fit, kick up your heels, and meet others – having a positive impact on your health and wellbeing while reducing your risk of developing serious illnesses.”
To see more Let’s Dance! content, head over to our Instagram - @sportandrecalliance or visit the Let's Dance! website.
Photos of Wes Streeting MP, Angela Rippon CBE and Kai Widdrington courtesy of Colours of Redbridge, Photography by Justin Thomas.
Read the statement from Sport and Recreation Alliance CEO, Lisa Wainwright MBE.
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