Dance to get fit

"It was so much fun," says Frances, "To be honest, [At the start] I just wanted to look good at my daughter's wedding. But I couldn't remember the last time we'd had so much fun. So even once the class ended we looked for ways to keep it up – besides weddings!"

Ballroom dancing, in the way most people think of it – couples performing waltzes and other dances together - originated in England in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, as an activity of the upper classes of society. Its popularity gradually trickled down to the working and middle classes, and public dance halls became more common.

Of course the movies – and in particular, the pairing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers – also added glamour and romance to ballroom dancing. But with the advent of rock ‘n roll – and also, perhaps, with high school gym class instruction and embarrassment – ballroom dancing took a back seat. But competitive dance has enjoyed a renewed popularity, and social ballroom dancing is following in its wake.

Benefits spirit and body
Frances and Eamon have kept with it. They found a once-a-month Saturday dance at a local community centre and since then they've made it a standing date. Frances says that it's rekindled the couple's sense of romance and also provided a new group of friends. “We all cut in on each other and have a great time. It really raises our spirits.”

There is a timeless quality to the marriage of music and motion, and dance can provide a much-needed boost to the spirit. Learning a new skill brings a sense of accomplishment while the physical benefits of dance are great too: