DANCEWEST

Text by Subeer Suri

DanceWest is a west London based charity transforming health and wellbeing and making dance accessible to everyone. I caught up with Founder Rosie Whitney-Fish, a Choreographer and proud west Londoner who is passionate that everyone should have access to dance and values the impact that taking part in dance can have on people’s physical and mental health. ‘What’s exciting about DanceWest is that our 70 programmes are led by 54 incredible dance teachers who bring a huge range of skills and knowledge to every class. Our teachers are internationally recognised for their work in dementia, parkinsons and are able to make dance accessible to people of all ages and abilities’.

Pre Covid-19 DanceWest programmes took place in different community locations in west London including hospitals, libraries, care homes, sheltered housing and people referral units with the ambition of providing ‘dance for everyone and everybody’. In 2019 DanceWest supported 36,000 people to have access to free and low cost programmes.

When the pandemic hit, DanceWest adapted with a thoughtful programme of online classes, Rosie comments; ‘It was important to keep everyone moving, provide a connection to each other and some light relief or entertainment. After a digital audit, it was clear we were going to have to provide support to get people online, access low-cost or free technology and think of different ways for making our programme accessible’. As well as online classes, DanceWest provided DVD dance classes, posted training packs and newsletters. ‘We then wanted to build a connection between our audiences. Pre-Covid we were providing tea dances and discos so we experimented with these in a digital capacity’. DanceWest offered 1-2-1 support helping people to get online, feel confident with Zoom and access tariffs and technology.

I asked what 2021 will be like for DanceWest and Rosie shared that ‘we will continue to provide online dance programmes and when the organisation is able to we will support the community in having the option of taking part live or remaining online. Supporting our community post Covid-19 is our priority. The impact of being isolated and shielding will mean that our community will need our work more than ever. I truly believe that by participating in dance we can build and restore our community’.

You can find out more information about DanceWest and their work at: www.dancewest.co.uk

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©DanceWest Bolder Not Older, Tricia de Courcy Ling

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