Strictly Star joins What To Do!

Strictly Come Dancing professional Ian Waite, whose partners on the show include Radio 2 breakfast presenter Zoe Ball, Olympian Denise Lewis and model Jodie Kidd, was this week a special guest on our online activity platform, What To Do.

Ian joined our weekly dance class, hosted in partnership with the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, bringing an extra piece of sparkle this week! Every Wednesday, the Leeds Rhinos Foundation deliver an accessible online dance class, hosted by professional dance teacher Nicola Booth.

Following Nicola’s instructions and engaging delivery, people supported can learn easy to follow dance steps, get moving and active seated or standing, and have fun meeting new people from around the country.

Jenny Robinson, a regular participant on What To Do, was present in the Rhinos’ South Stand alongside Nicola this week, and proudly showed Ian her Strictly ’10’ mark before taking part in the disco-themed session.

The event featured on BBC Look North on Wednesday evening, and Jenny told the programme how much she has got out of the What To Do sessions over the last three years saying, “All the dance classes that they’ve been doing, and all the different groups that Community Integrated Care do have really helped with my confidence,”

She continued, “I didn’t really see many people over lockdown. You might think you’re having a bad day but when you’re dancing you forget about everything that’s going on, listen to the music and just dance.”

Ian Waite added his endorsement to the online classes, saying: “I think as Strictly Come Dancing showed last year, just because you’ve got a disability doesn’t mean you can’t do what everybody else is doing.”

John Hughes, the Director of Partnerships and Communities at Community Integrated Care, said: “We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn, discover new skills, have fun, and connect with others. This is at the heart of What To Do.”

“Partnering with high profile sports teams such as the Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves, Portsmouth FC and celebrities, from WWE Superstars to Strictly Come Dancing stars, we’re creating world-class disability accessible sessions and experiences, accessible and adaptable to suit any person who accesses care and support.”

Our What To Do activity sessions are part of a wide range of activities that can be accessed for free on: www.What-To-Do.co.uk