Strictly Come Dancing’s Shirley Ballas teaches Brixton schoolchildren to dance

By Claudia Lee

Shirley Ballas visited a Brixton school this week as part of a national campaign to boost well-being.

Ms Ballas spent a morning at Corpus Christi Primary School in Trent Road, Brixton, to teach the children a short routine and demonstrate how much fun it can be.

Ms Ballas said: “Dance is a wonderful outlet that enables people to connect and express themselves, and I feel passionately that more children should have the opportunity to experience and enjoy it.”

Ms Ballas supports the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) campaign – Find Your Dance Space.

The ISTD is an educational charity and examination board that has been running for 117 years with aims is to inspire, teach and support dancers and dance teachers around the world.

During the dance session, Ms Ballas partnered with the ISTD’s Richard Still and Malcolm Hill.

Pupil Jimi Powell, aged nine, said: “I think dance is important because it can express your emotions and release your happiness. I’ve loved dancing with Shirley today.” 

Co-headteacher Jean Connery, said the school provides dance lessons and clubs to pupils, which have proved hugely popular.

In light of the current financial difficulties many parents are facing, Ms Connery explained that more schools can offer dance lessons through their Pupil and Sports Premiums. 

Pupils eligible for Pupil Premium funding could access dance provision in school and the Sports Premium could be used to train staff.

Ms Connery said: “I would advise any schools thinking about it to speak to a local, qualified dance teacher. The children will absolutely love it.”

Today the ISTD has approximately 6,000 members in over 59 countries throughout the world and typically conducts over 120,000 examinations each year. 

To Find an ISTD-trained teacher near you visit, https://www.istd.org/find-a-teacher

Pictured top: Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas dances with Corpus Christi Primary School student (Picture: Trevor Adams/matrixpictures.co.uk)