Thameside Wheelchair Dance

ANNUAL REPORT 2010

2011-03-02T14:11:00.000-08:00

THAMESIDE WHEELCHAIR DANCE TEAM

CUIJK, HOLLAND 2010

This year brought about changes in our set up. Firstly, most of the students we had worked with for four years left Kingsdown School for college or other occupations and the group class for people from homes and day centres had to be terminated for financial reasons. In order that all groups did not loose out on their newly acquired activity, we rearranged our program to provide a class for the older students on a Monday, another for new and younger students at ,Kingsdown on Thursdays and make monthly visits to a home and a Day Centre for the more handicapped people.

January.
We started our year at Kingsdown School with a new group of much younger children, most of whom have learning as well as physical difficulties. It was doubtful, whether or not they could achieve sufficient experience for the annual event at Cuijk at Easter but we hoped to we could make headways with a team dance for the forth coming UK National event later in the year.

February.

Saw the start of our monthly visits to Timber Grove Rayleigh and Avro Day Centre in Southend. At Timber grove we provide a wheelchair dance activity for residents and day visitors and at Avro we provide a line dance activity for a large class of day visitors with physical and learning difficulties. The standard of dancing is not good but the enjoyment and satisfaction, just cannot be measured.

March.

At the end of March we made we made the first of several visits to the Dagenham area. The first was to an able bodied junior school holding a Disability Awareness Day. We demonstrated the use of wheelchairs and then gave the children and teachers the opportunity to operate and dance in the chairs. It was so successful we had trouble in retrieving the chairs to go home. The school made a collection and donation to the Thameside fund. We also attended the Southend Connexions awards evening to receive a trophy for the most inventive youth project of the year, for taking a team of wheelchair dancers to Holland for the annual dance festival..

April.

Barking celebrated St George’s day in big way, with major events for schools in the park and dancing in front of the Town Hall. Thameside provided demonstrations and public participation with able bodied dancers throughout the day, outside the Town Hall.

May.
Thameside provided an hour of demonstration and participation wheelchair dancing at Southend’s St Christopher Special School, disability awareness day. It was a great success with lots of people wanting to take part.

June.
June was a busy month starting with a return visit to Barking Town Hall in the sunshine to promote dancing, followed by a disability awareness day at Barkings’ Vicarage Fields Shopping Centre. It finished with a special disability awareness day at Kingsdown School, where groups of able bodied children from a number of schools in the Borough attended Kingsdown to be made aware of the difficulties of living and working with disabilities, including operating wheelchairs.

July.
Attended two events in June the first in Bromley at a college for people with disabilities. It was a super venue with lots of people willing take part. Hopefully they will be able to include dancing in their activities. The second event was at the bye- annual Hythe festival, with lots of activities throughout the week and we performed one afternoon at the local Age for Concern Centre, with hope that they would include dancing in their program
.
August and September
Generally much quieter months in school holidays, with only our afternoon classes and visits to the day centres to keep us occupied.

We did however have one very wet and windy outing to the Brighton disability Awareness Day. It was held on the promenade in the rain and gale force winds. Attendance was poor and it was difficult for all outside activities.

We managed to complete our performance under extreme conditions, but it did little to help the disappointed organisers. Perhaps they will have better luck next year.

October.
The Basildon disability day was an outside venue, held in the town centre with many people and passers by.

It was a bit chilly, but there were lots of stalls and a variety of singing and dancing to cheer us up. Thameside provided demonstrations , with public participation. There was a lot of interest, with one lady offering to drive a minibus to our dance sessions. Later in the same week ,we repeated a similar program with three of our dance team at the new Connexions youth centre in Shoeburyness, Southend on Sea

November.
The highlight of the year was the first UK National Wheelchair Dance Competition, held in Birmingham. Competition was a bit limited in the junior category, but Thameside entered couples in six dance events and one team in the group dance event. All performed with colours with lots of medals.

The new members of the group had the pleasure to return to School with a cup for the junior group dance award.

At the end of November Margaret and I Travelled to Malta for the Bye-annual Malta Dance Festival, followed by a three day seminar for wheelchair dance adjudication and more advanced wheelchair dance training. Hopefully this will help us to prepare our dancers who have been upgraded from novice to amateur.

Once again this has been a rewarding year and we would like to thank all those who have helped to make it such a success.

Geoff Howlett and Maragret Brix (Thameside Wheelchair Dancing )

Affiliated to WDSA.UK Charity No. 1116988
Affiliated to WDA Reg. Charity No. 292235
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Holland Dans Spektakel 2010

2010-08-11T19:06:00.000-07:00

After so much success in Holland over two years, it was difficult to think we may take part in 2010. The dancers we had worked with for three years had left Kingsdown School and gone to college and the new pupils were not ready to travel.

Early in the New Year, things changed and we made contact and gathered together four wheelchair dancers and three standing partners, to form a new club for the school leavers. In less than two months we managed to train the standing partners from scratch, set up four couples for the competition, organise finance and book the transport.

Our thanks to Southend on Sea Borough Connexions, Kingsdown School and Ronald Salvesen’s private charity for funding.

Kingsdown, although closed for Easter, allowed us to load and start from the school. Thank you Graham Brown for opening the school over the weekend.

There was great excitement when the new Jumbulance arrived. A super coach with all modern conveniences for people with disabilities. Our drivers, Brendan and Paul soon got us organised and on our way. We made good time to Folkstone and managed to catch and earlier train. As a registered ambulance we were first onto the train again and there was a lot of praise for the skills in getting the very large coach onto the train in one manoeuvre. For those that had not travelled with us before, the loading, driving within the train and the channel crossing was an exciting experience. We had normal delays at Antwerp but with the extra space, super toilet and cooking facilities on the new coach, we were able to make a through journey to Cuijk with only short stops for driver changes. Margaret, who travelled by air the day before to attend a meeting, was there to meet us and advise us that she had organised a large table for the evening meal, so we went straight to dinner, before unloading the coach. Later, it was all hands on, to unload, before settling down to enjoy the comforts of the hotel.

Each of the competition days went well. We left early each day, so that we could get to the venue, be organised with dress, competition numbers and get practice on the very large floor. Because we were representing Great Britain, different couples had the honour of escorting the Union Flag each day, at the opening flag parades. With recalls through to the semis and finals the days went quite quickly. We entered three events each day with all couples reaching the semi finals and two couples reaching the finals.

James Ireland and Paige Tyrrell were outright gold winners each day in the Debutante Combi Class, having been streamed directly through to the semi finals, on each occasion. We entered 6 events and returned with a total of 4 gold and 4 bronze medals

In the evenings we celebrated the success and congratulations of each day, and socialised in the company of competitors from 18 countries. It was said that some were up until 2 am on the morning that we left. Probably true, because we had a very quick and quiet run home. We arrived back at the school on time ( thank you again Graham ), displaying our trophies, with wonderful memories, souvenirs and photos to remind us of another successful project.

These sort of trips depend so much on the support of teachers, parents and alike. A special thank you to Lynn who acted as carer to the young people and mother to us all and to Brendan and Paul who have become friends as well as drivers, bell boys, porters and entertainers.

Thank you all
Geoff Howlett and Margaret Brix (Thameside )

BLESSING OF THE NEW JUMBULANCE

2010-06-21T17:49:00.000-07:00

In March Margaret and I were invited to Harpenden for the blessing of another new Jumbulance. Although we allowed what we thought would be plenty of time, it appeared that the whole town had turned out and parking was impossible. We only had a quick glimpse of the coach as we rushed to the service. The church was packed with members, users, associations and local supporters. The service also included the blessing of a beautiful banner to be carried aboard Jumbulance coaches, when visiting Lourdes. It had been designed and embroidered by inmates at one of Her Majesty’s Prisons.

The service concluded with everybody going outside to complete the blessing and official opening of the Jumbulnce.

We were lucky enough to be introduced to Brendan, the driver who would be taking us on our next trip to Holland and who gave us a tour of the coach. It is truly magnificent and with so much more space than the one we normally use. It has fixed seats, reclining seats, anchors for people travelling in their wheelchairs and adjustable reclining cots for those with more severe disabilities. There is a large toilet with supports and sufficient space for assistance. It comes equipped with a galley, including sink, cooker, fridge, freezer, and microwave for the longer journeys. Below the main deck there is ample storage space for spare chairs and luggage. We look forward to using it in the future. Later, during the lunch reception we met lots of other user groups and members of the Trust. It was nice to put faces to names that we have worked and associated with over the past two years. Others were interested in what we had achieved, having seen our reports in the Jumbulance news letters.

In all, it was a very special day and we were pleased to have been invited to take part. Soon we shall be busy booking next years trips to Holland.

MOBILITY ROAD SHOW 2009

2010-06-21T17:36:00.000-07:00

Thameside were invited to attend the 2009 Mobility Road Show at Kemble for a second time. This year we were more prepared and able to present ourselves in a much more professional manner. We displayed picture boards of our activities; DVD’s of visits to Holland and Malta and had a variety of chairs for public use. We were positioned next to the activity area, which was sponsored by wheelchair manufacturers RGK, who produced the Kingstown School dance chairs.

We had a very busy site with lots of interest and participation, when Sharing the activity area with RGK and some members of the British Basket Ball Team. The show is quite tiring but so worthwhile when working and being with people with all manner of disabilities and seeing the achievements that can be made. We look forward to re establishing contact with some of the interested groups in the future.

INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR DISABILITIES

2010-06-21T17:21:00.000-07:00

3rd December 2009

The Mayor was present most of the day, talking to both stall representatives and participants. He spoke of the efforts the Borough was making to improve all swimming and sports venues to satisfy the needs of people with disabilities. Local football clubs were combining to provide facilities and training for autistic children. He also announced the construction of a multi million pound sports complex including an Olympic size swimming pool with facilities and instruction for all abilities, to commence in January 2010. Later in the day he started the balloon race, with balloon for each disabled person.

Thameside displayed picture boards and DVD’s in one hall and screened a background video in the other. The video was a great success. During the afternoon we gave a demonstration of both Duo and Combi dancing. It was so well received that a representative of the Council announced that if there was sufficient response they would consider setting up wheelchair dancing as a local activity. The organiser of the event was so taken with the possibility, he is proposing a demonstration by the local group at next year’s event. The event was a massive success and we look forward to another next year.

Dancing on Wheels

2010-06-21T16:55:00.000-07:00

As a result of our success with our BBC Blue Peter project advertised on our website, Thameside was approached by Fever Media, a television recording company, to further investigate Wheelchair Dancing. The director visited our class at Kingsdown School, where we were practicing for the annual competition in Cuijk and we were able to demonstrate the principles of Duo and Combi dancing. We met him again in Holland at the competition, where he was able to observe Combi dancing at International level. It was here that he announced that Fever Media had secured a contract with BBC 3 to present .

In October Fever Media returned to Kingsdown with Diana Morgan and Mark Foster, Olympic swimmer and celebrity dancer in Strictly Come dancing. Mark and his wheelchair dance partner, Diana, are competing in the new BBC 3 show, Dancing on Wheels. There was great excitement when they demonstrated their new skills with a tango, in full evening dress with cameras. After the demonstration the children enjoyed the presence of Diana and mark about the school with interviews and cameras. Another first for the children of Kingsdown School.

Margaret and I were lucky enough to attend some rounds and the final of the competition. It was marvellous!

NEW CHALLENGES

2010-06-21T16:50:00.000-07:00

June 2009

NEW CHALLENGES

Thameside were invited to Harlow Fields, a special needs school at Harlow, Essex, to introduce dancing. This time however we didn’t need our wheelchairs. The school has a large percentage of students with walking and learning difficulties, but not fully committed to wheelchairs. We considered the best form of dancing to be Line Dancing and Margaret prepared and modified a selection of basic dances, reducing the amount of turn and simplifying complicated steps.

    We had a very large class, a high percentage of which were supported and helped by teachers and carers. Margaret and I worked from opposite sides of the group so that they had somebody to follow when we changed the line of dance. We kept the number of dances to a minimum and completed the program with repeats and requests.
    The trial proved to be very successful with every body including, pupils, staff, helpers and ourselves enjoying music, dancing with laughter throughout the afternoon. I’m sure it will happen again and it would be so nice to consider a combined day with Kingsdown School at Southend.

    Later in the school year we were again invited to Harlow Fields, this time to teach Ballroom and Latin American for school leavers to dance at the school Prom.

We made two visits to work with a large class of enthusiastic pupils and teachers. We taught a basic waltz, a simple rhythm routine which could be danced to a variety of music and a basic Latin American sequence of steps for the Rumba and the Cha Cha. The project was entirely successful and it was wonderful to see the pupils, most of whom had walking difficulties, dancing as couples or with teachers. I’ve a feeling there may be another Prom next year.

ANNUAL REPORT 2009

2010-06-21T16:44:00.000-07:00

ANNUAL REPORT 2009

THAMESIDE KINGSDOWN 2009

With such a successful 2008, we were a little apprehensive about maintaining the same level of achievement in 2009. But, having looked back over the blogs, write ups and the photographic records, it has proved to be another successful year.

It all started early in the year with a request from the Guernsey group we met in London in 2008, to go and help them start a wheelchair dance group in Guernsey.

In February, Margaret and I set off with our wheelchairs, which caused considerable problems, because they were too large for the check-ins and we were on limited weight. With a little wrangling, all was well and we were offered fast access to the aircraft. As we reported on the blog the project was successful and I have just heard that they have managed to co-op the help of a dance teacher. We are looking forward to returning this year to work with them again. Returning through the Guernsey airport was even more hilarious because they insisted one of us was incapacitated and called us on the intercom to go forward first at each stage. Margaret suggested that I should walk with limp, to save embarrassment.

In March we were invited to Harpenden by the Jumblance Trust, for the blessing of their New Coach and a Banner to be carried on the trips to Lourdes. The banner had been designed and embroidered by an artist and inmates at one Her Majesty’s Prisons. The coach is wonderful and designed to transport people with all manner of disabilities and supporters. We were lucky to be introduced to Brendan our driver for our next trip to Holland. We had an escorted tour and demonstration of all the facilities of the coach. It has basic and reclining seats, .anchors for wheelchairs and specially designed cots for the more seriously handicapped. It is equipped with an oversize toilet with supports and sufficient space for assistance. There is also a galley, cooker, fridge and freezer for meals on longer journeys. It is truly a wonderful bit of kit. All we need is the money for next year. For photos and more see our blog

As a result of our achievements with Blue Peter displayed on our Website, Fever Media, a television recording company, visited the school to further investigate ballroom dancing in wheelchairs. We met the director later in the year, gathering information at the competition in Holland, having secured a contract with BBC 3 to produce Dancing on wheels, to be shown early in 2010.See our blog.

Each year we upgrade the dances for Holland to give an extra sense of achievement, so this year we decided that we should up the standard again with introduction of Combi dancing. Because we have no standing dancers at the school we had to co-op other volunteers

With the help of two young girls from a local dance and theatrical club (See blog for the Mushroom Club), a teacher and one of Margaret’s dance pupils, we managed to train four standing partners.

In April we set off once again to Holland. Our journey to Cuijk with Jumbulance was excellent and the enthusiasm of those who had done it before became evident in the delight of our new members, including the mums of the younger girls. The competition was exciting, with every body supporting each other at different levels and we finished up with a hat full of medals. The team was complemented on their overall presentation of dancing and turnout, including our matching costumes, chairs and wonderful hairstyles by our travelling hairdresser mum, The experience of a new way of life, with travel, living and socialising with people from so many countries and the memories, is worth more than just dancing and the medals alone.

Early in May we were invited Harlow Fields, a special needs school in Harlow, Essex. This time however we did not need our wheelchairs, we were going to do line dancing with children with walking and learning difficulties. We enjoyed a wonderful day working with enthusiastic children, teachers and carers. It would be nice to organise a combined day sometime in the future, with our school at Kingsdown.

In early June we made a return visit to the three day Mobility Road Show, at Kemble. Thameside had a popular stand displaying picture boards and DVD’s of our activities. We shared the activity area with wheelchair manufacturers RGK and some of the British Wheelchair Basketball Players. There was a lot of public participation and a number of interesting enquiries, which we shall be able to follow up, later in the year. We were able to renew our association with Brendan and members of the Jumbulance Trust, displaying the new ambulance. Three days at the show is quite tiring, but is it great place to meet so many
people with disabilities, being active, creative and enjoying life. For more photos and information visit our website

Later in June we made two return visits to Harlow Fields special needs school, this time to teach basic ballroom and Latin American dancing, so that school leavers could dance at a Prom. Quite a challenge, but it turned out to be the most wonderful experience. We left on a high knowing that they had enjoyed themselves and that teachers, carers and pupils would enjoy their first Prom.

July and August are quieter months with the school being on holiday, but we managed to busy ourselves with our Thursday afternoon class of adults and people from homes and day centres. These are mainly people with serious disabilities who need carers to push them, but they so enjoy the activity and the music. To try and maintain the interest of the children we ran a short class on a Monday, for those that were able to attend.

During this period we were invited by Fever Media to attend the filming of a couple of rounds and the final of Dancing on Wheels at Elstree Studios. Quite spectacular,. Look out for it on BBC 3, in February 2010.See the blog

September, and back to school with another new group of children. Most of the existing team have left school, so we start all over again. We hope to get some funding to set up a class for the school leavers, so that they can maintain the skills and enjoyment they have achieved in the sport of dancing.

October, and another challenge. This time Thameside, together with Lean and James from Kingsdown School attended the Southend Disability Day. As well as demonstrating wheelchair dancing, we organised Short Mat Bowls. (Margaret and I also work with groups of disabled bowlers). Both activities proved to be successful, with people of all abilities taking part. It is hoped that with the help of Southend Borough Council, we can get more support for activities for people with disabilities. We may even introduce bowls to Kingsdown School.

October provided more excitement at Kingsdown with another visit by Fever Media, Mark Foster the Olympic swimmer and celebrity dancer in Strictly Come Dancing. Mark and his wheelchair partner Diana Morgan who are competing in the Dancing on Wheels series for BBC3. There was great excitement when they danced for the school with cameras and in full evening dress. (See the Blog)

Mark and Diana relaxing with the children at Kingsdown

December brought a nice surprise to end the year. Following enquiries at the Mobility Road Show, we received an invitation to take part in the annual International Disability Day at the Borough of Dagenham and Redbridge. The event sponsored by the Borough was held in two halls at the Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club. Stalls in both halls were manned by all manner of people proving the support and the needs of people with disabilities. Tea and coffee was available throughout the day and a buffet lunch was provided for over 250 people, before presentations in the afternoon.

Thameside displayed picture boards and DVD’s in one hall and screened a background video in the other. During the afternoon we gave a demonstration of both Duo and Combi dancing. It was so well received that representatives of the Council announced that if there was sufficient response they would consider setting up the activity. The organiser of the event was so taken with the possibility, he is proposing a demonstration by a local group at next year’s event.

It would appear that there was hardly a month that something special did not take place, so I suppose we must consider this to have been another successful year. We can only do this with support of teachers, helpers and carers. Thank you all.

Geoff Howlett and Margaret Brix ( Thameside Wheelchair Dancing )

Holland Dans Spektakel 2009

2009-05-03T17:45:00.000-07:00

Last year, our visit to Holland was so successful in respect to dancing and social achievements; we doubted whether we could ever better it. But no, it was happening again.

From the time our driver Brendan, struck up a quick rapport with the children and started to load our super clean and shiny Jumbulance, spirits were high. Those who had travelled before began reminiscing about 2008 and the new dancers were beginning to get caught up with the excitement. Even with a trailer for the dance chairs and extra luggage we made good time to Folkestone to enjoy a break, before boarding the train. As an ambulance we got priority over all other vehicles and to the delight of all aboard, were first to load. Brendan demonstrated his skills by manoeuvring the coach and trailer onto the train, with a steady drive through an illuminated tunnel, to the front. After a quick trip under the channel we set off through France, Belgium and on to Holland. Apart from delays around Antwerp the journey passed quite quickly. Excitement rose as people recognised our approach to the Hotel and Margaret, who had travelled by air the previous day and was recording our arrival. Booking in was well organised this year and we soon had all 20 people allocated to their rooms. The new members of the team were very impressed with the Hotel.

Because there were over 200 people, associated with the event in the hotel, we decided to be up and out early on Saturday and Sunday to beat the rush and get organised at the venue. This enables our dancers to get changed and practice on the very large floor. (400m2) By taking standing dancers we were able to enter couples in both Duo and Combi competitions and entered four events each day. Because all couples progressed through the preliminary rounds and up to the semi finals, the support team were busy throughout the day, organising the dancers to make sure they were ready and available with the correct numbers, for recalls. The waiting for numbers during recalls is quite traumatic, but it was so pleasing the way the team supported and willed each other on. Over the two days we gained places in five of the eight finals and celebrated with Ten medals. To get to the last six in a final is some achievement when you consider that there were up to 36 couples in some events. Everybody relaxed in the evening and re-lived the excitement and achievements of the two days.

The next day, Easter Monday, we had a fast run back to Calais, with the Jumbulance helping us once again to get to the front of the queue and on to an earlier train. We had a comfort stop at Folkestone before the final leg back to Southend. We arrived at the school to be greeted by parents, to display our medals and were advised that success with Blue Peter in Malta had been featured in The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance Magazine. ( Thanks Margaret, who is a member of the ISTD )

There is no doubt that the project was a success. The benefits of the challenge of competing are important to the young people. They are excited to take part and so supportive of each other, throughout the trip. This year they had the advantage of dancing and competing with able bodied people, which is really rewarding. The social side of the event is as important as the competition, with over 200 able and disabled people from 20 countries, living, dancing and socialising, together. The introduction of able dancers to our team was very successful, everybody blending and enjoying each others company.

Well done the team and Thank you the sponsors and the support team

Geoff Howlett and Margaret Brix, Thameside Wheelchair Dancing

Thameside travel to Guernsey to help establish a Wheelchair Dance Group

2009-03-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

Guernsey Wheelies
Take to the floor

Thameside and the Guernsey Jumbulance group who organize holidays for people with disabilities, were first brought together by the initiative of a coach driver, Geoff Gale, of the Jumbulance Trust. Whilst escorting the Guernsey Group on their London holiday, he told them of his introduction to wheelchair dancing, when he took our team to Holland last year. This planted the seed and after a short telephone call, we made a quick visit to their London hotel to show them a DVD and explain the principles. On returning to Guernsey, Pam Bartlet the organiser of the group and her supporters raised funds for us to go to Guernsey to present a workshop.

We set off early on Friday 27th February with a car full of wheelchairs and our limited personal baggage. Transferring from the car park to the airport in the courtesy bus and booking in with oversize luggage was quite amusing. We were even offered help to the aircraft. The organization in Guernsey was great with a suitable vehicle to whisk us away to the Peninsula Hotel.

That evening we gave a presentation at the hotel, supported by DVD’s. We explained the operation and use of chairs to music and the techniques of Duo dancing ie. with two chairs together and Combi, one chair and a standing partner. The size of the floor was very restrictive, but we managed to get a few people on the floor to preview the dances to be done the following day. The workshop on Saturday was great, a large floor and interested people. We had a lot of fun and worked through six routines, with helpers taking part in chairs, on foot and as pushers. To help them remember the routines, we left them written scripts of the dances that Margaret had prepared and a DVD illustrating each dance with and without music. They were very pleased with the exercise and told us before we left that they were going to book the hall to make a start the following week. We look forward to hear from them but are sure that with their knowledge of the people they are working with and the support that is available, they will make it. They are also hoping to engage the help of local dancers.

Geoff Howlett and Margaret Brix ( Thameside Wheelchair Dancing )

To find out more about the Jumbulance Trust, please Click here to go to their website.

Waltzing on Wheels!

2009-02-23T09:07:00.000-08:00

Wheelchair Dancing is proving very popular and Timber Grove

Rosemary Hassell, Tracy Grant and Pamela Runeckles who all live at Timber Grove in Essex, are really enjoying their new hobby – Wheelchair Dancing.

The club has recently been established by Geoff and Margaret, who had seen wheelchair dancing become very popular abroad and decide to introduce to England, The have been to the world championships in Holland where the say the standard of dancing is amazing!

With help from Geoff, Margaret and support workers, they waltz and jive, foxtrot and boogie. Its great fun and very rewarding to see everyone working together to the music. Its also an excellent way to make new friends and good exercise for everyone, too!

Some Good News

2009-02-14T11:15:00.001-08:00

The Mushroom Theatre Company and associated Equal People Company of Rayleigh, who work with both able bodied and disabled young people, is going to join us in supporting our dancers from Kingsdown School. Up until now, the Kingsdown group have only been able to dance or compete in Duo events i.e. two chairs dancing together. Initially, Thameside is training two girls from the MTC group to dance with a person in a wheelchair, so that we can dance and enter Combi events.i.e one chair and one standing partner. Next week, during half term, we hope to get both groups together to practice for the forthcoming International Wheelchair Dance Festival, in Holland, at Easter. We hope that we will be able to enter two Combi events, one couple using a standard wheelchair and the second couple using an electric chair. This will create another challenge and some wheelchair dancers will be able to enter, both the Combi and Duo events.

For progress, watch this space.

About our videos

2009-02-03T09:51:00.000-08:00

We have just recently uploaded a complete set of videos from the Malta Open. Some of which can be seen using the video bar on the left of this page.

Unfortunately, because the video bar is not completely under our control, it will only show four of the videos at a time in no particular order.

If you would like to see the complete set, please go to our YouTube channel Here where you can see all the videos in whatever order you wish!

Thanks
Webmaster

James spins it and wins it

2009-01-08T12:08:00.001-08:00

5:20pm Wednesday 3rd December 2008

By Michelle Archard »

A TEENAGER has spoken of his pride after waltzing his Blue Peter dancing partner to victory in a tough international contest.

Wheelchair user James Ireland, 16, and TV presenter Helen Skelton danced together at the Malta Open Dance Competition at the weekend and came away with first prize.

The pair competed against up to 100 other dancers from 18 countries in three dances, the waltz, samba and quickstep.

The competition features couples where one is standing and the other is a wheelchair user, making the difficult dances even more challenging.

James, a pupil at Kingsdown Special School, Eastwood, was surprised and happy with the win, particularly as he only practised with Helen three times.

He said: "It was really good. Helen and I didn't expect to win so we were really pleased. We were surprised to do so well.

"We thought our samba was the best and it is my favourite dance. We found the quickstep difficult, but everyone was impressed by it."

The pair had two days of rehearsals in October, when Helen and the Blue Peter cameras came to Kingsdown.

James, who was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, and is paralysed from the waist down, continued to practise with his coach at the school's wheelchair dancing club Spin.

Spin is an award-winning club and was specifically chosen by Blue Peter to help with Helen's dancing challenge. James was then lucky enough to be the dancer chosen to compete.

He said: "I'm really looking forward to seeing it on TV now."

James, of Broomfield Avenue, Leigh, has been wheelchair dancing for four years and has competed in various competitions. He was helped by coaches Margaret Brix and Geoff Howlett and was accompanied on his trip to Malta by carer Lynn Ellison and Spin co-ordinator Sheila Beddows.

Learning the routine - Blue Peter presenter

Helen Skelton and James Ireland practise before the contest

Story from Basildon Echo, 3 December 2008

More of James

2009-01-08T11:52:00.000-08:00

Blue Peter Show

2008-12-14T10:16:00.000-08:00

Blue Peter have now transmitted the episode featuring James and Helen competing in Malta ....

But it might still be on BBC Iplayer at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00fztbp/Blue_Peter_09_12_2008/

If you don't want to watch it on Iplayer .... Through the wizardry of the internet take a look at our videos on the left. (shhhh). Along with another short clip we shot ourselves.

Congratulations to James and Helen, if you want to know the result watch the videos!

Kids' Tango Tour is on after Donation

2008-12-14T10:11:00.000-08:00

A BLUE Peter presenter spent two days at a south Essex school learning ballroom dancing with a wheelchair user.

2008-12-14T10:07:00.000-08:00

James Ireland and Helen Skelton

A BLUE PETER presenter spent two days at a south Essex school learning ballroom dancing with a wheelchair user.

Presenter Helen Skelton will dance at an international competition with James Ireland, a pupil at Kingsdown Special School, in Eastwood.
She spent two days with James, 16, learning the waltz, samba and quickstep, ahead of their performance at the Malta Open Dance Competition, on November 29 and 30.

Because of Helen’s busy work schedule, it is unlikely the pair will be able to practice together again, so James will keep up his skills with a partner at the school.

James, who was born with Spina Bifida and hydrocephalus and is paralysed from the waist down, said: “I really enjoyed training and didn’t mind the cameras being there at all.

“Helen was really nice. Learning the dances was really difficult, and I did run over her toes a couple of times.

“I’m a bit nervous about the competition, but it should be OK.
“I love ballroom dancing, it’s a real challenge and there is lots to think about.”

Sheila Beddow, assistant headteacher and co-ordinator of the school’s wheelchair dance club, Spin, said: “James has been with Spin for about four years.
“He was thrilled to be chosen to dance with Helen. We have a lot of good dancers, but he was the lucky one to be chosen.

“Helen has been lovely. They have been doing well, as she has some background in dancing. “The cameras have been filming them practicing and James has been given a camera to do his own video diary.”

HTML clipboardHTML clipboardJames is not new to dance competitions. Last Easter, he was one of eight dancers from the club who went to Holland for the wheelchair dance world championships. The four couples were novices and went for the experience, but all came back with medals.

James and his partner won gold.

James and Helen have been taught by Pippa Roberts, the coach of the Maltese wheelchair dance champions, and two of her professional dancers. The whole school was treated to a performance by the dance professionals and Helen talked to pupils during the school assembly. The pupils were also shown some of the early footage taken by the BBC’s camera and sound technicians.

Director of Blue Peter, Kara Miller, said: “They have lots of work to do, but it’s looking positive.
“Helen and James work very well as a team.”
Helen joined the famous children’s TV programme last month as it marked its 50th birthday.
The pair’s performance at the competition will be screened later this year.

Photograph above: Dancing stars - Helen Skelton and James Ireland with Geoff Howlett, wheelchair dance instructor at Kingsdown, Pippa Roberts, choreographer and Maltese wheelchair dancers Steve Fenech and Mandy Ghio.

Press Release - All Ability Sports and Leisure Taster Day – 27th September 2006

2008-12-14T10:03:00.000-08:00

Just thought you might be interested in how our day went on Saturday. It was a really great day with lots of fantastic opportunities for people with a disability to try. We had great feedback from the people who attended, we were all buzzing with excitement at the end, just seeing some of the young peoples happy faces was a great joy to all who was there.

The day started with a Sitting Volleyball session lead by The Brentwood Volleyball Club Coach, which was a great team fun event. People also tried out table cricket, Boccia, trampoline, football, Judo and some throwing and racing events in Athletics, and for those who wanted a fun time we had an obstacle course bouncy castle.

In the afternoon things really got interesting with a player for the Essex Outlaws Basketball Team from Chelmsford, who encouraged young people to have a go in this fantastic and energetic team wheelchair sport. Then we had a dance instructor plus a very welcome opportunity where a couple of instructors who came over from Southend to show Wheelchair Dancing, we all joined in with some tasters of dance which included line dancing sequence and ballroom, which was great as it catered for all able and disabled participants which included combi dancing, where a standing dancer dances with a wheelchair dancer, Duo dancing where 2 wheelchair users dance together, all a great way of getting us active.

We also had seated Taichi, instructed by Shifu Wang who is a Shaolin Master, having studied Taichi at the Shaolin Temple in China. Taichi improves balance, strength, posture and helps regulate the nervous and hormone system and helps lower blood pressure and helps muscular and skeletal pain.

Another great attraction that was taking place throughout the day was a businesses from Quest 88, that brought along their adapted cycles for people to try out on the Mark Hall Athletics track, there was the Petra running bikes, designed for recreation, to improve physical and social development and to encourage participation in sport, then there were tricycles for all age groups, plus other adapted cycles such as side by side versions, and duo versions similar to a tandem but with 3 v/heels with more stability and support. This was a great attraction which was kept busy all day long.

The taster day was the second event day organised by the 'All Ability Sports and Leisure Group' consisting of parents and professional bodies formed to provide more opportunities to help people with disabilities get a better quality of life, improve access to sports and leisure activity, and help people with a disability to aspire and try a wide range of new sports, dance and other social and physical interactive activities. The taster day was organised to help let people know where they can take part in regular activity which includes a Monday night Centre of Excellence Athletics, A Saturday Morning Multi Sports Club, A Thursday evening Pan Disability Football Club, a special needs Judo club and a New Seated Taichi opportunity. All the new sessions will be run by qualified experienced disability friendly coaches, concentrating on skills both children and adults can do.

The day held at Mark Hall Sport Centre had funding from Awards For AIL via All Ability Sports & Leisure Group, Sport Aid and the Education Trust via Essex Community Foundation, plus a grant via Active Harlow from The Boshier Hinton Foundation. There was 70 - 100 people taking part, and though this was good, as an organiser who helped to promote this out to all schools, disability groups and associations known to us, I was still a little disappointed as I felt that there must be many more disabled people who may have missed out on getting these great experiences.

If anyone would like to find out about the new activity sessions that have been set up by the All Ability Sport and Leisure group they can contact Helen Offord, who is Harlow Council's Sports Development Officer and Active Harlow Chairperson, and will be happy to discuss any enquiries anyone might have, Call her on Tel No 01279 446417, or email helen.offord@harlow.gov.uk

More on this can be read on the Harlow Herald web site.

Essex health and wellbeing conference.

2008-12-14T09:52:00.000-08:00

A massive 1000 people came to the Essex Care and Support - “Health and Wellbeing” conference on 4th September. The theme was chosen by people supported by the care and support service in Essex, and they came along with their families, staff and our stakeholders. The day was an opportunity for everyone to try new activities, think about their own health, be pampered and generally have some fun! (see the pictures below)

We were also there giving people the opportunity to try out wheelchair dancing. It was a great day and a lot of fun.

To find out more about the conference and the people behind it, Family Mosaic, visit their website.

Qualified Instructors

2008-12-14T09:24:00.000-08:00

Geoff and Margaret are now both qualified instructors of Wheelchair Dancing, under the IPC regulations. The IPC is the International Paralympic Committee, read more about them here www.paralympic.org

See also the article in the uhad2bthere news archive: Thameside, working to promote wheelchair dancing

Wheelchair Dance Spectacular in Holland

2008-12-14T09:23:00.000-08:00

Thameside run an after school club at Kingsdown School Southend on Sea and this year we raised sufficient funds to enter a team in the annual Easter festival at Cuijk in the Netherlands. Nothing like starting at the highest level, but this is one of the nearest events, because there is insufficient structure in the UK at the present time. But watch this space because we now have a new association, the Wheelchair Dance Sport Association. UK ( WDSA.UK) and this year 14 new people qualified as Instructors under a scheme organised by the Association and qualifiers from the International Paralympic Committee. (IPC).

The Youngsters not only gained experience on the dance floor, they seemed to relish in the experience of a new way of life. We travelled in a special coach with a lift for their wheelchairs, large toilet facilities for people with disabilities and storage and anchor facilities for wheelchairs.

Loading the coach onto the Euro train was exciting, as we were the first aboard and had to travel the full length of the train. A quick journey under the channel and then onto the continental highways, through France and Belgium to arrive in Holland at 1600 hrs. The hotel was quite grand, with 300 people from 18 countries. Because of the numbers meals were a bit slow, but the biggest problem was the choice of food. All rather splendid but no sausage and chips or takeaways. Had to resort to getting them Big Mac’s on the last night.

On the last night they had so much fun socialising and dancing with people from other countries and to quote one boy ”I have never had such fun, or been to a party with people like me.” The party went on until the early hours, but it was good to see these young people in this new environment and how well they all integrated.

They achieved so much in the competition, which must have been so difficult in such a prestigious event on a very large dance floor. We entered 4 couples in two events of the novice grade, each day and came home with 2 Gold, 1 Silver and 4 Bronze. The praise for their appearance, presentation and technique was overwhelming. We were asked to return next year and have the enthusiasm to do so, but we must save another £5000. A second club from the UK, the Beacons, based in Devon attended the event and entered additional events with standing partners and achieved lots of awards as well. It was good to the fly the flag and support each other on the floor. The presentation was grand with 14 people from both clubs, taking to the floor and receiving awards

WELL DONE THE DANCERS AND A BIG THANK YOU TO THE ADULTS AND SUPPORT TEAM