Let’s Dance - Herefordshire families invited to boogie on down

As the nation gets dancing with the Change4Life Let’s Dance campaign, NHS Herefordshire and Halo Leisure are teaming up to get local families strutting their stuff on the dance floor by offering free dancemat taster sessions.


Halo Leisure has purchased two sets of eight state-of-the art dancemats to help Herefordshire’s families get active. Using games console technology, the mats are used in small classes with an instructor on hand to help participants learn a range of steps. Each class member has their own mat to dance on with the dance image being projected onto the wall at the front of the class. The class can choose which tracks they want to do, which vary from 1970s glam rock to hip hop, dance and R&B. Once the tracks are chosen, the dancing begins! You follow the moves on the screen and your efforts are recorded and scored for accuracy, effort and skill, so there’s a competitive element too.

Dancemat sessions have been introduced into Halo’s group exercise programme at Hereford Leisure Pool and Leominster Leisure Centre. Although these are targeted at young people aged 6–16, Halo is working in partnership with NHS Herefordshire to provide some free sessions as part of the local Change4Life programme that people of any age can participate in.

The free sessions which take place on March 6, are open to all people regardless of age, ability and style. Four sessions will be run from Hereford Leisure Pool (10-10.45am, 11-11.45am, 1-1.45pm and 2-2.45pm) whereas Leominster Leisure Centre are inviting people to come and have a go any time between 11.45am-15.45pm. Booking is advisable for the Hereford sessions by ringing 0845 241 2562.

“Dance is great for all ages and abilities and it doesn’t really matter if you don’t have a musical bone in your body – you’ll still be having fun whilst getting involved in healthy activity.” Says Tamara Bailey, health and fitness manager at Halo Leisure. She continued, “All people need to bring with them is a willingness to have a go, and some comfy shoes.”