I had my first dance lesson when I was two and a half years old. Ever since then dance has been my life’s passion.
Dancing uses all of the major muscle groups and not only requires a great amount of flexibility, but also requires strength and endurance. It is also one of the greatest forms of cardio-vascular exercise, increasing general fitness and wellbeing whilst cutting the instances of obesity.
Having said all of that, dancing is also a wonderful social activity, and studies have shown that social ties and socialising with friends contributes to higher self confidence and a positive outlook.
Dancing benefits all age groups, not only adults and school age children, but it’s also a great benefit to pre-school children.
I opened my first dancing school in 1981 and since then I have taught thousands of children, and it’s been my privilege and pleasure to see them blossom into confident, fit and healthy young adults, and I believe that ALL children should have the chance to develop to their full potential regardless of class or disability.
But I always thought that there must be more you could do with dancing and so I started to develop a series of programmes that not only taught a child the basics of dance, but at the same time taught the child the required elements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and key stage 1.
And so Dance with A Difference™ was born.
Dance with A Difference™ is the culmination of 12 years' research and work and lets children, mainstream or special needs, learn through music, movement and mime.
You can now buy Dance with A Difference™ under license as ‘a complete business in a box' that can be taught by most people. So while children are having fun learning, you can have just as much fun earning!.
Linda Smith
