After my spinal injury last June and all the uncertainty that followed, I felt – just as many of our students and parents did – that our little school needed to come together. When I heard about the Let’s Dance! campaign, led by Angela Rippon, through a routine email from the RAD, I didn’t hesitate. At the time, I still couldn’t stand or sit for long, but I thought, Let’s give it a go!
With just three weeks to prepare, I reached out to our students, parents, and local dance groups, calling on everyone to come and dance. Canning Town Library generously provided a venue, and Morrisons stepped in to cater the event. The plan? Four hours of non-stop dancing.
Pam’s People, Sree’s Dancers, and Tarana from Sitar Fusion answered the call, offering Zumba and Indian dance workshops, while our students – from Primary to Intermediate – demonstrated class exercises. I introduced a chair-based ballet session, and one of our adult students performed her wedding dance with her husband-to-be, a moment that was both touching and inspiring. Anita Young MBE even contributed an encouraging interview for young dancers.
We had about 100 people dancing for four hours! But for me, the real success of the day wasn’t just the dancing – it was the volunteers. As a school and community interest company, nothing we do happens without them. Organising events, shows, and community projects takes more than just effort – it takes generosity. Without the teachers, dance instructors, Canning Town Library, Morrisons, and our incredible volunteers who set up, chaperoned, served food, welcomed guests, and cleared up afterward, this event would have easily cost over £1,000 to run. Instead, it was a true act of community spirit.
In a world where everything is measured by money, what we experienced on March 2nd was something priceless – passionate people sharing their art, opening their doors, and inviting everyone in, whether young or old, novice or experienced. It was about celebrating diversity, bridging gaps between dance styles, generations, and abilities.
Let’s Dance! gave MyBallet Academy and MyBallet Community the chance to express our values to the fullest. Thank you, Angela Rippon, for your wonderful initiative – I can’t wait to do it again next year!