Letters RSS Feed


Send your letters to the Chorley Citizen by clicking HERE.

The editor welcomes letters from readers but reserves the right to amend or shorten them, or to refuse to print them. Anonymous letters cannot be accepted; names, full addresses and a contact telephone number must be given as a sign of good faith, although only a portion of the address will be used. It is policy not to publish letters unsigned, unless there is a compelling reason for confidentiality. Letters e-mailed to the newspaper must also include address and phone number.

How to attract boys to dance

10:21am Tuesday 23rd September 2008 in


Re: How can boys be attracted to dance?

My name is Jeremy and I help businesses in the UK and Australia maximise their potential with increased sales, revenues and ultimately profits. To this end, I deliver bespoke sales and marketing speeches, courses and programs.

I'm from Australia, but I currently reside in Chorley. I was interested in your article, as I'm always amazed how so few children in the UK participate in after school sports and activities. You asked in your above article 'How can boys be attracted to dance'. I have a young son who at aged six is probably too young to dance at the level required for competitions. However, I do have an idea on how to make it more attractive for teenage boys to attend dance school.

I don't think it's about 'how to meet girls' (even though the ratio of boys to girls is 1 in 25 i.e. 4 to 100), as if this was the way to attract teenage boys; then, the boys attracted to dance school would attend for all the wrong reasons - and probably simply put unwanted attention/pressure (in the wrong areas) on the girls who already attend dance school.

I think that one approach would be to appeal to teenage boys who appreciate (or have their girl friends appreciate) boy bands. Any musician worth his/her salt know that an 'added string to the bow' would be the ability to dance. As we all know, boy bands typically have dance routines that are highly coordinated and are always well received, whether via music DVD or concert.

So for example (and it is only one example - probably best to ask a few teenage boys on the best approach) would be say a headline of: "West life, Boy zone, Take That! What do all of these boy bands have in common besides top 10 hits? They can all dance!!!" Then continue to explain how just like these boy bands, you too can dance to the top!

I believe that the above approach would help to make the dance school more 'hip' or 'cool' and it focuses more on relevant 'here and now stuff', rather than 'dance school lessons' (who needs more school lessons...we have enough of that at school!) or 'exercise' (parents are always pushing exercise on me!). I think that the boys who would be attracted to dance School via the boy band theme would be boys who wanted to achieve and may even have some degree of music talent already.

The other idea I have is to ask the Head Teachers of local schools for a five minute slot at their school assembly where you can 'sell' dance school to the students. For goodness sake, whoever delivers this speech from the dance school MUST be hip and cool...and before they address the school crank up the music to the latest hit song that the kids listen to for say 15-20 seconds - to really gain their attention. Prior to this ask the Head Teachers which boys are in music bands etc. and speak one to one to them first.

Kids these days really do look up to bands etc. and most kids I know love music. It's vital to fuse dance school and music together in any future promotions etc. of the dance school.

Anyway, the above is just a couple of quick and immediate ideas that came to mind. It should really be quite easy and fun to attract more boys to the art of dance...just think innovation and fun!

Jeremy Stevens Chorley

More Letters stories


Most popular



Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »

Local Businesses