Enter Rowans Does Strictly and you could get 14 weeks of free expert dance tuition
Rowans has already received over 80 applications from both individuals and couples who want to take to the dance floor and raise money for Rowans Silver Jubilee Appeal.
The successful applicants will be given 14 weeks of free expert tuition by professional dancers David Keal (F.I.S.T D. CertD.Ed.) of Keal School of Dancing, and Beverley Craig (A.I.S.T.D), owner of Scarlett Rose School of Dance.
David said: 'When Debbie from Rowans rang to ask me, I couldn’t say yes quickly enough. Rowans had taken such good care of my mother, who had a brain tumour.
‘She was cared for in the Hospice by the nurses and staff for the last 10 days of her life and she died without any pain and peacefully.
‘Therefore Rowans Does Strictly is a perfect event to give back to Rowans and also do it in memory of my mother. A wonderful dancer, my mother was the founding Principal of Keal School of Dancing. She retired in 2007 but carried on teaching until about four months before she died, aged 82.
‘I am really looking forward to teaching all the contestants to dance, and it is fabulous that Beverley has also agreed to support me. Our schools are very different, as I mostly teach adults and Beverley’s pupils are predominantly children.
‘However we broadly teach the same dances, such as Ballroom, Latin and Sequence dances. Together we will design routines for each couple that suits their personality and their ability.’
Beverley said: ‘David was my first teacher and has continued to provide me with professional guidance throughout my career. So I immediately said yes when he asked me.
‘I also knew his Mum, she was a remarkable and formidable lady, so it is good we can do this to support Rowans in raising money to re-build the Hospice, so they can continue to provide fantastic care for our community for years to come, and in memory of David’s mum.
‘ am also really looking forward to it, as I know it is going to be loads of fun, which is what dancing should always be about! David is slightly more pedantic than me, so I think our teaching styles will complement each other, benefiting the contestants. Our aim will be to give them the dance and routine that they feel happy and confident to perform.’
In addition to the free weekly dance lesson, David and Beverley will offer dancers an additional free dance lesson, in preparation for the LIVE Event on May 2, 2020 at the Pyramids Centre, Southsea.
Closing date for applications is 10pm on December 31. Those who are selected to audition will be notified and invited to attend an evening audition on January 14, 2020.Hospice Care Won’t Stop This ChristmasRowans Hospice will be caring for local families throughout the festive season to make sure their final Christmas together is special.
Emma Shepard said: ‘The nurses made up a bed for me and I stayed the night with mum on Christmas Eve. All of the staff at Rowans helped to make that Christmas so special. They made sure we had presents to open and helped us to celebrate the day together as a family. That evening my mum died.’
A donation of just £25 would cover the cost of Christmas dinner for a family of four at Rowans Hospice. Please donate today at rowanshospice.co.uk/donate or call (023) 9225 0001.