<\/p>\n
Or should I say, I \u2018Ghoomar\u2019d at the opportunity!<\/p>\n
I made my way to Barry on a wet and wintery night which was such a contrast to the fact I was going to meet the women from a Vale of Glamorgan all female group who go by the name of the Rainbow Women\u2019s group, I couldn\u2019t help but have a little laugh to myself.<\/p>\n
I hadn\u2019t had much of briefing, but what I did know was; I was to be at St Margaret\u2019s community centre in for six o clock, I was meeting a group of women, and I was attending a dance class.
\nNow, normally the words dance and class in a sentence would send something close to cold shivers down my spine. It\u2019s a long running fact (not, joke, such is its realism) that I have no rhythm. In fact, I have no rhythm, no co-ordination and some real issues with right and left which naturally makes any sort of dancing difficult, but given it was all for a good cause I decided to swish my apprehensions under my ballet pumps!
\nI was once described as an immobile, intoxicated, left hoofed moose, whist at a friend\u2019s wedding, when I attempted to Let the Good Times Roll via my bottom half, so, I was pleasantly surprised when a very sweet little black and white cat greeted me at the door of the community centre.<\/p>\n
Surely this meant I wouldn\u2019t be the actual worst dancer in the building?<\/p>\n
\u2018Lucy. Out.\u2019 A man\u2019s voice shouted and I guessed it was directed at my so far one and only ally. Lucy seemed to roll her yellow eyes before tip toeing her way past me without even as much of a trace of an apology.<\/p>\n
\u2018Traitor.\u2019 I muttered before introducing myself to the man who turned out to be Steve, Steve who seemed to have even less of an idea of what was going on than me.<\/p>\n
\u2018I\u2019m here to blog about a dance class?\u2019 I said eventually after going round the mulberry bush and telling the poor bloke that I was from Merthyr, it was snowing in Merthyr and my mother was worried about me driving \u2018all that way\u2019 from Merthyr. Unfortunately for Steve, my nervous disposition comes out in pointless word vomit.<\/p>\n
\u2018Oh you are here for the Bollywood class.\u2019 He told me. And that initial shiver that had tingled when I realised I was actually going to have to dance somewhat gained momentum and felt like a massive thunderbolt of panic hitting me between the shoulder blades.<\/p>\n
\u2018Uh yes?\u2019 I said trying to muster enthusiasm and shush the moose within me.<\/p>\n
\u2018Ah yes, the Rainbow Women.\u2019 He said. \u2018They do lots here; Zumba, Pilates, Yoga and now Bollywood!\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018And what exactly are the Rainbow Women?\u2019 I asked wondering how much of a geek\/nerd\/idiot I would look if I took my brand spanking new notebook and pen out (purchased especially for the occasion) to start making notes?<\/p>\n
\u2018Well,\u2019 he mused. \u2018They are a group of women who provide lots of activities and events for ethnic minority women in the Vale of Glamorgan. Good bunch.\u2019 He added with a smile. \u2018Not the most punctual mind!\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Activities like Bollywood?\u2019 I said.<\/p>\n
\u2018Just like Bollywood.\u2019 He smiled.<\/p>\n
And then before I knew it a whirlwind of blonde hair and bounciness bounded her way over to me with registration forms and a welcoming persona.<\/p>\n
\u2018I\u2019m Diana. The teacher.\u2019 She said in offer of an explanation, and given her feet seemed to be on springs and her eyes sparkled like three million carrot diamonds I suddenly felt even more out of my depth.<\/p>\n
\u2018Bollywood,\u2019 She said in an Eastern European accent which meant I couldn\u2019t help but question her authenticity, \u2018is an all over work out. Your eyes, your wrists, your toes, everything moves. You go to gym; you don\u2019t work your eyes or wrists.\u2019 I agreed with her whole heartedly and wondered how one would exercise their eyes but such was her enthusiasm I dared not question it.<\/p>\n
The next person I met was Basma Inbasheh, who I now know to be the chairwoman of Rainbow Women, and she was equally as friendly and welcoming as every other person and feline I\u2019d already encountered. Basma explained that, in total, there are 82 members of the group and many different languages.<\/p>\n
\u2018Will there be 82 tonight?\u2019 I asked assessing the hall and clinging on to the fact that if there were 83 of us, 84 including Diana, at least I\u2019d be able to hide should it all get too much.<\/p>\n
Basma laughed. \u2018Not tonight.\u2019 She said before taking the mere fifty pence fee from me to join in.
\nIn fact, there were fourteen of us all together and without over thinking I just found a space, (as instructed) wiggled my arms, (as instructed) then wiggled my eyes (as instructed) and got on with it, or as Diana would say, I
\n\u2018Took a chance on the dance!\u2019 Mind, saying that, she also shouted lots of other things, things like; Bee, lotus, sunshine up, sunset down, boomerang and many other commands I\u2019m pretty sure I missed.<\/p>\n
After about ten minutes I couldn\u2019t help but wonder why I hadn\u2019t been introduced to Bollywood before? It was fun, fast and fiery, it was also funny given my left hoof (as previously stated) status, but such was the warmth and encouragement of the Rainbow Women I didn\u2019t feel out of place, out of my depth or even out on a limb! In fact, I felt fabulous which is definitely a form of pride and so I couldn\u2019t help congratulate Sport Relief for ticking all the boxes.<\/p>\n
And who wouldn\u2019t want to be told to \u2018Shimmy shimmy\u2019 on a Friday night, ey?
\nSo, what did I learn? Apart from the fact, I\u2019m not quite as left footed as initially thought, maybe only three quarters on the scale.
\nWell, I learnt that the money raised via Sport Relief helps lives of some of the poorest, disadvantaged people both at home and across the World, and half of the money raised by the public is spent in the UK, and it\u2019s given to groups like the Rainbow Women.<\/p>\n
I learnt how important groups like the Rainbow Women\u2019s are for support, confidence and community spirit, not to mention health and wellbeing in deprived areas of Wales. It truly was something beautiful to behold seeing women of all colours, cultures and creeds enjoying exercise!<\/p>\n
I learnt that Bollywood dancing is a jolly good laugh and I learnt that even though I\u2019ve combated 13.1 miles on several occasions I still have underactive eyes and wrists, which is something I promised Diana I\u2019d work on!
\nTo find out more about the work Sport Relief do here in Wales check out their website:
\nhttp:\/\/www.sportrelief.com\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This year Sport Relief takes place from Friday the 18th to Sunday the 20th of March and the theme for 2016 is feeling proud, so, when I was asked to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":3256,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n