A new ballroom dance programme is making dreams possible for blind and partially sighted students.
Launched through a partnership between Worcester’s Translucent Dance Studio and Step Change Studios, the project is underway at the Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) in Hereford, with students now preparing for a public performance in Worcester.
RNC executive principal, Lucy Proctor, said: “This is something we’ve not been able to offer students before.
“With Chris McCausland having won Strictly, so many students have been inspired so the opportunity for them to learn to dance was something we couldn’t turn down.
“The benefits they’re getting – their confidence, pride, physical fitness, coordination, and spatial awareness – it’s such a fantastic set of skills for them, and they just enjoy it.
“The openness and accessibility to something they either thought they would never be able to do, or is something they might have enjoyed in the past before losing their sight, has been incredibly powerful for all of them.”
Students have already completed a dance exam and will perform in a showcase on June 28 in Worcester.
They have been working on ballroom and Latin routines in weekly sessions, supported by sighted volunteers and college staff.
Matt Lucas of Translucent Dance Studio praised the students for their dedication and progress.
He said: “I was really excited to start working with the students but also nervous.
“The initial training was really insightful on how we would adapt our teaching for blind and partially sighted students.
“The students have been doing so well and are really enthusiastic.
“They all gained ‘Highly Commended’ results in their first exam, and are progressing to more challenging sequences.
“I’m so proud of what they have achieved and I look forward to the summer performance.”
The initiative began through a partnership with Step Change Studios, founded by Dr Rashmi Becker MBE and funded by the sight loss charity Fight for Sight.
Dr Becker said: “As a little organisation, we’re able to support more disabled people across the country through collaborations with like-minded partners.
“More importantly, local partnerships help develop sustainable support and opportunities on the ground.”
