I’ve been involved in music since I was a teenager. Here are some of the things I’ve done:
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I love dancing. It fills me with joy and makes me forget any problems or worries I might have.
I am living proof of the benefits of dancing: in 1997, I was knocked down by a car when crossing the road and my knee was smashed. After an operation to fix me together again, I was on crutches. Walking was difficult. As soon as I could, I went dancing, initially to a circle dance club where I would do as much as I could. When the pain was too intense, I would sit down for a while before dancing again. I went on to do line dancing and later, folk dancing. About thirteen years ago, a consultant told me I needed a knee replacement as I have a ligament missing, extensive cartilage damage and osteoarthritis. I refused and carried on dancing. I took dancing lessons in my 30s with Peggy Spencer, the “unchallenged doyenne of ballroom dancing”, as her obituary in The Telegraph described her. She ran ballroom dancing classes at her studio in Penge, South London. I was surprised she was still teaching as she was quite elderly. She had been choreographer and judge on the BBC television programme Come Dancing, and also choreographed a dance sequence for the Beatles' video, Your Mother Should Know and a tango for Rudolph Nureyev in the film Valentino. Surely she is too old to teach, I thought? How wrong I was. She divided the room into men on one side and women on the other and demonstrated some exercises she wanted us to do. Despite her age, she moved beautifully. She was an inspiration. I have never forgotten her. Come and discover the joy of dancing for yourself. No partner or experience necessary. I hope to see you at our club soon. Janet PS I also run Orpington Musicmakers, an informal group for all amateur musicians. |
