It wasn’t the usual Easter holidays for 10 dancers from The Big Dance Company in Cornwall in March 2014. They enjoyed the opportunity of a lifetime flying 5,000 miles to accompany danceaid founder Laura on her visit to South Africa, and lead a series of dance workshops to AIDS orphans!
As danceaid supporters know – we fund various projects to help AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa, where 1 in 5 people are living with HIV, and dying prematurely of AIDS. We provide meals, counselling and links to job opportunities to safeguard suffering young people and offer them a chance for a happier future.
Sometimes though it is great to do something extra to really lift the spirits of these young people, and let them have fun, free from the worry and stress of their daily lives.
Fiona Richardson, founder of The Big Dance Company began talking with our danceaid founder Laura Wilson at a dance competition where the ladies decided to join forces to do something different in 2014. “We thought it would be a great idea to save up and join Laura on her next trip and surprise the children with dance and games workshops!” said Fiona.
Fiona added “Dance is a powerful and special thing that should be shared and used in a really positive way. It’s not just about competitions and performances – dance changes people’s lives – as well as making people happy. We hope we leave with the children with moves and skills they will develop and continue to enjoy for a long time after we have gone.”
The group of ten consist of Fiona, her husband Ben, and son Kyle, Charley McOwen, Anna Broome, Shanna Dawes, Cassie Brewer, Brittany Brewer, Billy Buckland and Abbi Hillman. All the dancers have raised their own funds and have been voluntarily packing bags at Tesco and Morrison’s in order to pay for their flight costs.
We really appreciate the effort that The Big Dance Company have gone to travel such a distance to make these children feel so special, and create happy memories for them and we hope that the group from The Big Dance Company have an equally uplifting experience during their trip. Check out how they got on below; –