Ballroom dancers bring stage magic to Havant care home

Residents at Bedhampton Court in Havant swapped their armchairs for the dance floor when two professional ballroom dancers dropped in for an afternoon of music, sequins and showstopping routines.

Raires and Emma visited the nursing home on Hulbert Road, run by Healthcare Homes, and turned its conservatory into a ballroom for the afternoon.

The pair danced to music from The Phantom of the Opera, The Mask of Zorro and Mamma Mia!, among many other favourites. Emma swept around the room in a flowing yellow gown, and Raires put on a white mask for the Phantom routine.

It wasn't long before the audience became part of the show. Residents were invited up to join the professionals, taking a turn around the floor in hold. Those who preferred to stay seated joined in from their chairs, holding hands with the dancers and moving along to the music.

Visiting entertainers are a regular part of life at Bedhampton Court. The home runs a weekly programme of activities that also includes themed parties, craft sessions, bingo, board and floor games, a magician and visits from a therapy dog.

Bedhampton Court has 47 bedrooms over two floors, set in landscaped gardens with a large conservatory and courtyard garden. It provides residential, nursing, dementia, respite and palliative care, as well as care for people under 65, and works closely with local groups and schools to keep residents connected with the Havant community.