Last week, following Mr Bates versus the Post Office, I wrote about the importance of creative arts to our economy as well as the influence they can have on attitudes and behaviour.
I once met the actor Kevin Whately who played Lewis in the Morse series. He told me his love of acting was born of a visit to a community theatre while still at school. I wonder how many others started at community events in the same way.
Just before Christmas I popped into the awards evening for the Bellagio dance school, based at Bells Farm Community Centre, Druids Heath. I met the principal, Jessica Hallam, and her dad Kevin some time back and was impressed with their hopes and ambitions for young people in the area. It’s now a flourishing school, working with tiny tots to those in their early 20s.
Dance is good for health, discipline, and focus. It’s creative and confidence building and can nourish aspiration. Collette, whom I met at the awards, is now in her final year of a Sports Coaching and Science degree at Birmingham City University. She told me she’d been attending since the early days and is now a dance captain at the school. It’s become part of her life, giving her friends, purpose, and hours of pleasure.
My two sisters used to do highland dancing when I was growing up. I well remember the excitement in our household as they prepared for a performance or competition.
In these times of limited local authority services for youngsters and uncertainty about the future in places like Druids Heath and all the pressure parents face, we should encourage opportunities for dance and other performing arts offered by dedicated people like Jessica and her family. The participants may not go on to become TV stars or dance at the Royal Ballet, although one never knows, but they will develop confidence, reliance and a lifelong affection for their art which will stand them in good stead.
Good luck to Bellagio and all those other community arts ventures and the youngsters who benefit. We need you.
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