Strictly Come Dancing Stars Launch Dancing Project for Schools

Bromley school children today got the chance to practice their ballroom and Latin dance skills with Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova from the BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing show.

Darren and Lilia taught 500 children aged 5-16 from six primary and secondary schools in Brighton how to jive and cha cha cha as part of Essentially Dance - a pilot scheme to improve children's fitness and self-esteem.

The launch event took place at Bishop Justus Church of England School, Magpie Hall Lane, Bromley, this morning.

The scheme is being piloted with 2,500 children aged 5-16 in 29 primary and secondary schools across the country thanks to funding from The Aldridge Foundation.

Over the next three months, 52 teachers and classroom assistants will receive practical training sessions with professional dance and PE experts supported by a training resource, which includes a step-by-step DVD led by Darren and Lilia, a booklet with easy to follow sessions and a CD with suitable music.

Darren said: "Through the popularity of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing combined with the participation of sports celebrities like Darren Gough, Mark Ramprakash and Matt Dawson who all took it very seriously and achieved great success in the series, boys are seeing ballroom and Latin dance in a whole new light - if their sporting heroes can do it, then so can they!"

Welcoming the scheme, Children, Schools, and Families Secretary Ed Balls said: "From ballroom to ballet, dancing is a fantastic way for children to keep fit and have fun.

"We want to encourage everyone to take part in physical education and we know that dance is a great way to improve fitness and can attract young people who perhaps do not enjoy competitive sport such as football or netball.

"Dance forms part of the PE and sport curriculum and I hope both teachers and children will quickly see the benefits from these pilots.

"Making physical activity an attractive option for all young people is especially important if we are to tackle obesity and give young people enjoyable and positive activities they can take part in both during and after school."

The Essentially Dance scheme will be evaluated by Roehampton University and a report is due in May. There are plans to make the final training resource available to all schools following a launch this summer.

Rod Aldridge, chairman of The Aldridge Foundation, said he hoped the scheme would capture the interest of as many schools as possible so that it could be rolled out across the UK.

He added: "From Rubgy playing PE teachers to rap music fans, this pilot scheme is already capturing the imagination of teachers and students alike.

"We hope to build on this enthusiasm and encourage other schools to bring ballroom and Latin dance into the National Curriculum, hold regional school competitions and a national ballroom dance event."

The Aldridge Foundation is a charity that aims to use entrepreneurship as a catalyst for young people to create lasting social change for them and their communities.