Boy, can he dance!
BBC talent show finals on Saturday sparks new drive to get more men into dancing
11 February 2010
Saturday night's final of the BBC talent show ‘So You Think You Can Dance' marks the start of a new programme led by two Lewisham College male dance students to encourage more men to get into dance. The inspiration behind the campaign is ex-Lewisham College student Simeon Qsyea - choreographer to the show and inspiration behind the moves of hit band JLS.
Lewisham College dance student Dickson Mbi, 24 from Dagenham said: ‘I think the media is helping with the image of dance - there's shows like Strictly Come Dancing and So You Think You Can Dance on the TV these days. But a lot of people still don't understand that dancers are athletes'.
Rebecca Henry-Litteck, Head of Dance at Lewisham College said: ‘With positive male role models that have a background in rugby and football taking part in many of the dance talent shows, men are realising that dance is a viable option. And they stand a great chance of really going places as this is just the beginning of seeing more men showing their athletic abilities off the pitch'.
Lewisham College kicks off its 2010 dance auditions with a Boys' Dance Day on March 10th. ‘Guys that want to show their talent and meet students to find out what our Dance Courses are all about can come along and meet our male tutors and male students.
‘If young guys are looking for a career in dance, but are worried about what their friends will say I'd say to them you have to be stubborn, and just take yourself away from the environment that isn't helping you get where you want to be'. Added Joseph Toonga, 20, another dance student at Lewisham College.
ickson added: ‘My favourite class is ballet now. Some people I know from the underground scene find it shocking that I'm now doing ballet, but some of the younger guys are looking up to me. Joseph and I are two young men that you'd never expect to do ballet'.
nyone interested in attending should visit the Lewisham College website or call the admissions department on 020 8694 3227.