Lytham Sixth Form College students appear on national #daretodance radio show

A group of students from Lytham Sixth Form College were given the chance to strut their stuff in Blackpool Tower’s world-famous ballroom for a BBC Radio 5 live show on reluctant dancers.

The programme came about after the Afternoon Edition show presenters spoke to Strictly Come Dancing’s Neil Jones earlier this year about many men being too embarrassed to dance – and received a large number of responses from listeners.

The students were invited along to get some tips from professionals about how to feel more comfortable in social scenarios where dancing is taking place.

Student Ben Wilkinson, from Blackpool, also sat on a discussion panel with presenters Nihal Arthanayake and Sarah Brett, as well as Dr Peter Lovatt and Taekwondo Olympian Lutalo Muhammad, who won Strictly Come Dancing for Children in Need.

The 18-year-old said: “They were talking about why men don’t feel comfortable dancing and that it’s not just one thing but multiple things which stop them doing it.

“For me, it’s a personal thing where you’re putting yourself out there to be judged when you don’t have to.”

During the show, the group of students were given advice on overcoming their shyness by Dr Peter Lovatt – aka Dr Dance – an academic psychologist who studies the effect of dancing on human wellbeing.

They then put the theory to the test with a series of practice sessions on the famous dancefloor – which had played host to Strictly Come Dancing just the week before.

Matthew Barr, Associate Head at Lytham Sixth Form College, said: “It was fantastic for our students to get the opportunity to appear on national radio and see what goes into creating a production like that.

“The producers specifically wanted students who aren’t keen on dancing and I think many people can empathise with that feeling.

“As a College which teaches performing arts – and last year had a student named national Performing Arts Student of the Year – we know how difficult it can be to put yourself out there in front of an audience.

“So it was an interesting debate and I think the students involved really enjoyed setting aside those awkward feelings and learning techniques which might help them feel more comfortable dancing in the future.”