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.
Although Leeds Rhinos Foundation may most commonly be associated with Rugby League, the charity actually delivers a variety of sports coaching in schools with the aim of being more inclusive to boys and girls with a range of interests. As well as offering gymnastics and other multi sports coaching, one area that is growing in popularity for the charity is dance.
In 2009 Leeds Rhinos’ Spencer Properties dance captain, Nicola Booth, set up the Rhinestones Dance Academy with the support of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation. Since then the number of young dancers learning to dance with the Academy has grown substantially – so much so that she now runs classes at four different venues for children aged 5-14.
Speaking about why dance is a great activity for girls to get involved with, Nicola said: “Dance is fantastic 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."
Emma Dixon, whose daughter Jessica attends Rhinestones said she has seen lots of benefits from the class.
“My daughter Jessica joined Rhinestones in 2012 and was a very timid, shy little girl,” said Emma. “Jess didn't have any confidence and would get upset most weeks. If there was a rehearsal on a weekend to practice a dance ready for a match day, I would have to stay as Jess would get upset if I left her. However, Jessica enjoyed Rhinestones and her confidence began to grow little by little. Jessica has now turned into a confident Rhinestones dancer and looks forward to dance every week. Her confidence has also grown at school and her teachers have commented that the once shy little girl has gone. I believe Rhinestones has really helped her overcome her shyness and given her oodles of confidence. Nothing really seems to phase her now.”
If you would like to know more about the dance coaching offer for schools click here or if you are interested in the Rhinestones Dance Academy click here or contact Nicola.booth@leedsrhinosfoundation.org