Borough Life Winter 2006: You dancing? We’re asking!
VICKY Thomas has just one ambition… to get Wigan dancing!
The 27-year old who hails originally from Bedfordshire has just become Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s dance co-ordinator. And over the next two years she’ll be encouraging people of all ages from all over our borough to get up and get down.
It’s all part of an exciting new project called Fit 2 Dance which aims to turn more people on to the joys of music and movement.
“Dance can have a powerful effect on people’s lives,” said Vicky. “As well as being a great way to stay healthy it can also help improve other areas of a person’s life including their mental and emotional well-being. And of course, it’s a great way to meet people and socialise.”
A graduate of Birmingham University, with a degree in dance, Vicky first realised that she wanted to get involved with working with the community when she was teaching in far flung Ecuador. Since then she’s been involved with community dance projects a little closer to home – Cheshire and Blackburn to be precise.
Vicky’s first job in Wigan was to look at what’s on offer in the borough and then to see how it can be developed.
She said: “Over the next two years we will be encouraging people who don’t already have access to dance to get involved. What we really want to do is encourage people of all ages just to get up and get moving.”
Vicky added: “Over the coming months we are planning to work with older people by going into nursing and residential homes. Dance can be a great way to improve your balance and co-ordination. It’s even something you can have a go at sat down.
“We’ll be looking to get people involved in different kinds of contemporary dance from salsa to street dancing,” she said, “as well as giving more people the opportunity to perform in front of audience, if that’s what they want to do.
“We will also be able to offer help and advice to people who want to organise some form of dance group within their community.
“What we really want to do now is hear from people and find out what they want and how we can help to provide it.”
To find out how dance can help you, contact Fit 2 Dance co-ordinator Vicky Thomas on 01942 486922 or e-mail v.thomas@wlct.org
- Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust wants your views on dance development in our borough. Contact Vicky for a copy of the questionnaire or access it through the Trust’s website www.wlct.org/arts