Residents find new friendships through dance classes at Richmond Retirement Village

Residents have put on their dancing shoes to perform in front of neighbours and staff to celebrate the many benefits that dancing has brought to their health and wellbeing.

The performers gave the two dance performance as part of National Dance Week, a campaign which aims to get as many people dancing as possible in order to maintain a good level of health.

Residents from Richmond Villages Letcombe Regis have been benefiting from the regular dance lessons given by fitness instructor Lucy Clark, who said: “Some of the residents are taking dance classes for the first time in their lives. Others danced when they were younger and are now really enjoying taking up something that they probably never imagined they would have the opportunity to do again.

"There are others who were professional performers in the West End. What they all have in common is enthusiasm and a love of music.”

Babara Walsh, a resident from the village said: “Dancing is a great way of making friends. We have had a lot of laughs and learning the routines has given us all a great sense of achievement. I had never been to a dance class before but dancing is great for the legs and the memory!”

The exercise encourages flexibility, strength and stamina in dancers, and residents also described the psychological and social benefits’ dancing has brought, with improvements in their memory and the creation of new friendships.

The dances were learnt by residents through a step by step approach which allowed people to build up their dancing skills and create a routine which was then enjoyed by friends and staff alike.

Further dance classes are set to be introduced by Ms Clark and her colleague Emma, who want to get those living in apartments and care homes moving by offering seated dancing classes.