DAME Darcey Bussell considering a life without dance is the only time she’s lost for words.
While the 55-year-old is one of the most successful dancers of her generation, if not all time, she credits dance with not only giving her a career, but saving her life.
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“I was very dyslexic,” she tells Sun Health.
“So, I needed another way of expressing myself. I didn’t have the vocabulary or the confidence in the classroom, but I needed expression.
“So, when I found dance, it was like, ‘Oh, my goodness, it’s OK to be just me, as I am. I have something that I can excel in’.
“What if I hadn’t had that? Would I have ever been the confident person I am?”
Elegant, beautiful and graceful, yet impish, quick-witted and laugh-out-loud funny, the mum of two sits comfortably in Elmhurst Ballet School waiting for the five primary schools she’s invited for a free dance fitness workshop.
Creator of Diverse Dance Mix — DDMix for short — Darcey excitedly shifts in her seat, clearly passionate about the initiative.
One that not only brings dance to exercise classes across the country, but takes it into schools too, specifically targeting state institutions that wouldn’t get the opportunity to experience dance otherwise.
As excited primary-age children look wide-eyed coming into the dance studio and their teachers nudge each other at being in the presence of the former Strictly judge, Darcey’s warm smile and graceful poise instantly make everyone feel comfortable.
“The data shows that lots of the children we see live in a one-bedroom bedsit,” she says.
“They’ve never used space or understood body language or how to express or feel differently when you move your body to an accent like that, or to music.
“Dance lets children be physical without being competitive or trying to get into a team.
“There’s no sense of ‘I’m not really good enough,’ which is lovely.”
A full-time classical ballet coach at the Royal Ballet, Darcey gets to let her hair down with DDMix, teaching flavours of different styles including Greek, African, Irish, Bollywood, Charleston and Flamenco.
Her passion is infectious, but with less than half of children in the UK meeting physical exercise guidelines of 60 minutes per week, there’s an incredibly serious side to DDMix.
Darcey’s programme has been specifically designed for PE lessons so every child has the opportunity to gain the many benefits that movement to music brings.
“Dance gives you that resilience to get up and keep trying,” she says.
Dance lets children be physical without being competitive or trying to get into a team. There’s no sense of ‘I’m not really good enough,’ which is lovely
Darcey Bussell
“I got to go to a dance class every Saturday from age of five, but I didn’t do variety.
“When I started dancing, I wasn’t enamoured with ballet at all and it took me a long time to fall in love with it.
“What’s upsetting me is that young children are not getting the enjoyment from being active because there isn’t that fun variety available. But dance provides this all so easily.”
More than 3.5million adults in England do dance classes every month.
Studies show it reduces stress, raises levels of happy hormone serotonin, reduces the risk of dementia and boosts long-term memory and spatial recognition.
Having featured on Strictly’s panel from 2012 to 2018, Darcey talks fondly about the relationships she has with former colleagues and contestants, including 2016 winner, TV presenter Ore Oduba.
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She says: “Ore is one of our ambassadors at DDMix.
“He understands the value of dance having gone through this amazing journey that is Strictly.
“Ore hadn’t danced before. I think his first ambition was to be a footballer.
“Then he went into presenting sports and children’s TV as well.
“But now he’s on the stage, and is in the happiest place ever.
“I keep in touch with a lot of the professionals. A lot of them are friends.
Dance gives you that resilience to get up and keep trying
Darcey Bussell
“I’m asked a lot about who I’d like to see on the show, but it’s usually the most unusual ones that are great.
“Part of that is because you could never predict it.
“To commit to Strictly is one of the hardest decisions to make for any celebrity.
“I think a lot of people think ‘Oh, that can’t take that much time.’ But of course, massive hours go into rehearsal.”
With an incredible figure, energy and sense of humour, despite being very busy, Darcey says there’s little left on her “to do” list other than bringing dance to children with her DDMix initiative.
“I’ve been very lucky to have ticked all my ambitions.
What’s upsetting me is that young children are not getting the enjoyment from being active because there isn’t that fun variety available. But dance provides this all so easily
Darcey Bussell
“So now I’m just focused on what opportunities come about,” she says.
“If they really are interesting, and I feel they have some value, and I learn something from it, then I’ll say yes.
“Right now, for me, there’s a lot more to do around the survival of the arts and culture, and realising its purpose.
“I also focus a lot now on education, I realise there’s a lot of things missing.”
- For information about your nearest DDMix dance class, and to join the next live-streamed class with Darcey and schools across the UK on June 19, visit diversedancemix.com.
5 reasons to take steps
WHETHER you are a wannabe Beyonce or just jive around the kitchen with your kids, dancing is a great way to get fit and improve your mental health.
Here Darcey tells why showing your off moves is magic.
STEALTH WORKOUT: Anyone can dance to get fit, unlike many other sports that are heavily focused on skill and competition.
Darcey says: “The kids don’t even realise they’re exercising, and suddenly they’re out of breath.
“The key message is to give kids a really positive attitude about being active, to show that it can be great fun. It uses the whole body and supports coordination, balance, physical strength and nerves, which are very important.”
MIND MATTERS: THERE are five steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing, according to the NHS: Connecting with others, exercising, learning new skills, being kind to others, and being in the present.
These are all encompassed in a dance class, Darcey says.
“It’s a no-brainer. Dancing has all five elements in one activity. If it came in pill form, it would be a pharmaceutical blockbuster.”
HIGH FIVE: Even if you’ve got two left feet, you can get something out of dance. Strictly is the perfect example of people trying something new and also having the most extraordinary feeling.
“It’s not just the costumes and the audience, it’s how they feel when they’ve accomplished something.
“They say, ‘I never knew I could do that’.”
CONFIDENCE BOOST: A Swedish study of 100 teenage girls, who had reported symptoms of anxiety, found that those who danced twice a week for eight months had improved health and self-esteem.
The effects lasted more than a year after the classes.
Speaking of DDmix dance classes, Darcey says: “Kids come in, they’re closed off, their eyes on the ground.
“But when they leave the room after DDmix, they’ve got a totally different feeling about their bodies.
“Suddenly their personalities shine.”
BRAIN GAME: STUDIES have shown dance can boost brain health and prevent brain shrinkage in older people, potentially stopping dementia and Parkinson’s.
Darcey says: “It stimulates your mind and you’re constantly having to think. All the senses are alerted.”
Get free DDmix session
ON Wednesday, June 19 at 2pm, Darcey will be hosting the latest DDMix live-streamed, interactive dance fitness class and your kids can take part.
The class is available free of charge to all UK primary schools.
All you need to do is get your child’s school to sign up.
To register, visit the DDMix website and you’ll be sent details of the live event and how your school can get involved.
See ddmixforschools.com/dance-with-darcey- live-lesson.