To mark ‘Women’s Sport Week’ we are celebrating some of the incredible work done by the Leeds Rhinos Foundation to encourage and support women and girls to get active.
In 2009 Leeds Rhinos’ Spencer Properties dance captain, Nicola Booth, set up the Rhinestones Dance Academy with the support of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation. Originally Nicola ran just one class at Headingley Carnegie but these proved so popular that she now runs classes at four different venues for children aged 5-14 and recently launched a Rhinestones Elite Dance group for dancers wanting to develop further and enter competitions.
Dance is now a key part of Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s delivery in schools, and Nicola who is the charity’s Dance Development Officer, works alongside Cultural Partnership Officer and Dance Development Officer to provide dance coaching during school hours and after school.
Take a look at this video of Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s Dance takeover day at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Leeds.
Speaking about why dance is a great activity for girls to get involved with, Nicola said: “Dance is great for building confidence and self-esteem. It can be a fun social activity with many health benefits such as improving posture, the condition of your heart and lungs and increased muscular strength. Dance is now a big part of what the Leeds Rhinos Foundation offer and I am proud of the work we do to encourage young children to get active and pursue their interests.
“The Elite Dance team is an additional class launched recently for Rhinestones who show real drive and passion for dance. The additional class is a progression from regular Rhinestones classes, developing skill and technique further and offering those that attend to experience a competition element.
“The Rhinestones Elite team enter competitions across the North of England, taking part as soloists and as part of a squad. Our next Competition is with Cheer Dance UK and takes place this Sunday in Durham at Rainton Meadows arena.”
Praise for the Rhinestones Elite Dance Academy
- Janette Roberts whose daughter attends Rhinestones said:
“Georgia loves attends attending the Rhinestones Elite team, she said it’s fun it’s great exercise and is proud to be part of the team and enjoys helping and supporting the rest of the team. From my point of view I love to see the girls enjoying the dance experience working hard to improve each week, embracing the whole aspect of competition learning to lose and support others if they win at competitions I like to see the enjoyment on the girls faces when they dance. I love the different friendships Georgia has made and the way the elite team has taught her to think of others not just herself.”
- Jo Gorner said: “The Elite team has offered my daughter, Ava, a place to showcase a talent in an environment that is nurturing but at the same time competitive. It’s teaching her how to be a member of a team and what responsibilities come with that, to learn to lose, to appreciate other people’s abilities. I love the fact that it’s a different group of girls to her school friends too. I have never been made to feel more welcome in any team and I genuinely enjoy the time I spend with the other parents.”
- Lucy Walker whose daughter Bobbi is in the Elite Group said: “Dance is so important to have available for girls, particularly teenagers, because they tend to move away from many ‘traditional’ sports and PE in school. It’s also fantastic to have a girl’s only environment which is available in some schools but not all I don’t think. For example, my daughter Bobbi doesn’t do any other sports for fun but she’ll dance all day and is in great physical shape because of it.“What Rhinestones Elite gives the girls, that is unusual in a competition class, is that there really isn’t any concept of failure. It’s 100% positive and is genuinely about the taking part. The expectations of commitment and hard work are high and the girls do come through and deliver high quality dancing. At competitions they cheer for each other, and celebrate successes when they come, but if someone has a bad day there’s nothing but warmth and support.
“Something else that’s very special is the role models the girls have. Leading from the front, Nic sets very high standards for herself, her teachers and the girls, work incredibly hard and creatively to make the performances as good as they can possibly be and pushes everyone to achieve their full potential. All this is done with such positivity that she remains very much ‘one of them’ and an inspiration to them.”
- Leanne Bland, mother of Rhinestones Elite dancer, Keira, said: “Well what can I say. Keira has loved this team from day one. She has found her passion in this dance team (and she has tried out at many) she was comfortable the day she started and has not looked back since. Keira talks about her dreams these have come from being part of this team and seeing how Nicola Booth is with her team is an inspiration to Keira. As Keira as said herself she wants to achieve what Nic has. Nicola is a great role model to many and we thank her for being you. Your so kind with the girls they look up to you with beaming smiles as you look on them with your big smile we are the pride you have for your team and to me that is what makes a team a family. Keira loves every minute of this team and I know from seeing and listening to my 10-year-old that she has no plans of budging from this dance team. She has come on so much with her dance techniques and her confidence, whether her dreams will change as she gets older we will see but for now dance is her life and this team has her the love and passion.”
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If you would like to know more about the dance coaching offer for schools or if you are interested in the Rhinestones Dance Academy contact Nicola.booth@leedsrhinosfoundation.org