Working With Amazing Staff and Amazing Children

I am now volunteering at South Downs Special Needs School in Eastbourne, working with young children with autism, developmental delays and communication difficulties. I absolutely love working there  - as Leo has taught me so much so I feel suitably qualified for the job! In September this year I will be training to become an Intensive Interaction Practitioner - a wonderful therapy to help engage with people with limited communication so I will be thrilled to add that to my skillset as well. The team I work with at South Downs are so inspiring, kind and caring with the children and I truly love being part of the team there. The awesome headteacher, Rachael Smart, used to teach Leo when he was there 14 years ago!! 

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Dancing Through Challenging Times

During the challenging times with Leo when he was out of school and facing extreme behavioural challenges and meltdowns, online dance classes were my absolute saviour!! They gave me such a boost for the day and helped me to restore my energy to care for Leo. I loved leaping about the sitting room and knowing that if Leo needed me I could be right there for him. We also lived in a very cold house so dance classes had the added bonus of warming me up!!! A few months ago I was spending a splendid evening with my dad where we have a fabulous weekly Frock Up Saturday, a weekly ritual we started after my wonderful mum died two years ago. Sitting in my evening dress while my fantastic father brought me a glass of champagne, with Leo bouncing around the house happily in his Mr Happy top, an ad popped up on my Instagram feed with electrifying salsa music and teachers leaping about with wide smiles, and it said 'How about becoming a Zumba instructor?' And like lightening I thought "YES! That's It! That's what I want to be!!". My very generous father agreed to buy me the training for Christmas, and I loved learning about all the different dance styles and planning my first playlists! I have evolved over time to running classes which are less Zumba and more retro-pop as I find everyone far prefers dancing around to songs they know than learning new songs, so I pick all the songs which I think people will enjoy the most (song requests are always very welcome!)

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All Proceeds Go To Charity

I knew from the outset that I wanted to offer the classes on Zoom so that as many people as possible could attend them, and I also knew that I wanted to give every single penny raised to charities which could help young people with autism. I have chosen to support Ambitious About Autism, a national charity, Cherry Trees Respite Care and South Downs Special Needs School, where I volunteer. All these organisations have helped us enormously through the years with Leo and we are so grateful to them. I really want to ensure that the classes are as fun as possible so that people can attend them who really need a boost - of course the classes are for anyone and everyone, but I do hope that they provide some joy for any people who are carers of special needs children or adults, young families, older parents or anyone who needs a boost. Dance + Donate is more than Fitness - it's Fabulousness! Dancing is such a mood booster and I so hope my classes help you to Dance Yourself Fabulous! 

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Whatever Your Fitness Level, Wherever You Are!

Classes are live on Zoom and On Demand via Zumba.com so you can join me at any time from anywhere in the world! I am also a passionate hula hooper - so I have an extra challenge of the Hoopla challenges, where you do the whole dance class while hula hooping!

Thank You

Wishing you love and sparkles, and thank you for visiting Zumba Zoom