Department of Health and Social Care
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Dance group diversity team up with Change4Life to get the nation moving
Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity, are joining forces with the Department of Health to launch a Government campaign to get kids boogying for a healthier future across the country.
The ‘Let’s Dance with Change4Life’ campaign will see the whole nation getting down with free taster dance classes across the country.
Kids will have the chance to win a dance workshop with Diversity, as well as opening up free dance classes to everyone for the first ever national weekend of dance in March, sponsored by Change4Life partner, the Fitness Industry Association.
‘Let’s Dance with Change4Life’ is the latest part of the groundbreaking Change4Life movement, which is getting families in England eating well, moving more and living longer.
Public Health Minister, Gillian Merron said:
“Dancing is one of the most enjoyable ways for families to get active and stay healthy.
“It’s great that the Government’s ‘Let’s Dance with Change4Life’ campaign has teamed up with Diversity to find their favourite Change4Life dancer.
“We have also teamed up with the Fitness Industry Association, so that every family will get the chance to try a new type of dance during our free weekend of dance in March.
“But there’s no need to wait until then. Too many young people aren’t active for the sixty minutes they need each day, which puts them at risk of developing cancer, type 2 diabetes or heart disease when they grow up.”
The Let’s Dance with Change4Life and Diversity competition asks 5 – 12 year olds to recreate one of three dance routines choreographed by the 11-strong street dance group Diversity.
Kids across the UK will be copying the group’s moves from an online guide. To enter the competition they simply need to film and upload their dance routines on www.change4life.com/dance.
Diversity will then choose their favourite entry who will join them for an exclusive dance workshop and win tickets to their tour. Tickets and merchandise are also up for grabs for runners up. The best videos will be showcased on the Change4Life YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/letsdance .
Ashley Banjo, lead choreographer for Diversity and judge on Sky 1’s ‘Got To Dance’ said:
“We are very excited about launching ‘Let’s Dance with Change4Life’.
“Dance has been such an important part of all our lives - it’s a great way to keep fit, burn energy and have fun with your friends and family.”
13-year-old Diversity member, Perry said:
“I absolutely love to dance. I think it is a really fun way to keep active and has helped me make lots of friends.
“‘Let’s Dance with Change4Life’ is a really great way for kids to have a go at some of our moves.”
The Let’s Dance with Change4Life national free weekend of dance will take place in the first weekend in March. For two days, dance schools across the country will open their doors to families and give taster sessions so they can try a new type of dance for free.
David Stalker, Executive Director of the Fitness Industry Association said:
“Dancing your way to fitness is fun and ideal for people of all ages and abilities. That is why over 1,000 Fitness Industry Association gyms and leisure centres nationwide have already declared their support for this initiative. Our aim is to get the nation moving and their feet tapping”
Let’s Dance with Change4Life follows on from the success of Swim4Life, Walk4Life and Bike4Life which last year helped thousands of families to splash, stroll and cycle their way to more active, healthier lives.
ENDS
Notes to editors
1. For media enquiries only please contact the Department of
Health newsdesk on 0207 210 5221
2. The ‘Let’s Dance with Change4Life’ competition opens on the 27th January and closes on the 21st February. Children must be between five and twelve years old and have the permission of their parent or guardian to enter. For the competition full terms and conditions please visit xxx
3. To find out more about Let’s Dance with Change4Life call 0300 123 4567 or visit www.change4life/dance.com
4. Change4Life is a groundbreaking campaign bringing government, community groups, health workers, teachers, and businesses together. Our shared goal is to help everyone eat well, move more and live longer. For more information visit www.change4life.com
5. In May 2009, Diversity took the UK by storm by winning Britain's Got Talent. Nearly 20 million people in the UK, and much of the world were glued to their television screens to see Diversity overcome the odds and sweep to victory, in what was the most watched TV programme in these shores for over six years. Diversity are about to head out on their incredible 'Diversitoys' tour. To keep up to date with everything Diversity, just visit their official website at www.diversityofficial.com.
6. The Fitness Industry Association represents an industry which comprises over 5,700 sites nationwide and is staffed by over 200,000 people. The FIA aims to develop activity programmes designed to help every man, woman and child in the UK be more active, more often. In June 2009, they launched MoreActive4Life, a three-year national consumer campaign, designed to complement the Government’s Change4Life programme.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk
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