VIDEO: Ashfield sisters step up for new dance craze

When Sutton dance teacher, Ellie Cobb, launched her new dance class ‘Fitsteps’ in January she had no idea it would be so popular with older members of the community.

But the set of Latin and ballroom inspired steps, devised by Strictly Come Dancing professionals, to a range of chart topping hits and favourites from the 1940s have captured the attention of a pair of 67-year old and 65-year-old sisters from Sutton and Skegby.

Jane Swift and Ann Billings started Fitsteps to get out and about and keep fit.

Now they are seasoned professionals and attend twice a week.

They said: “We watched Strictly and really enjoyed that and also needed to get fit, so when we heard about Fitsteps we thought let’s give it a go.

“We love dancing and have tried classes before but when you do it in the gym it feels like you are under pressure to get it right.

“Here we feel at ease, it doesn’t matter if you go wrong and we love Ellie.”

The sisters are not alone, since starting the classes around Sutton, Skegby and Kirkby, Ellie has seen ladies in their 70s start and regularly attend together.

She said: “My eldest student is 71 and it just shows it really is a class for everyone.

“I have a range of ages attend but it seems to have been really popular with older ladies.

“It’s great watching them come every week, I can see an improvement in their dancing and coordination.

“It gets all different parts of the body moving and brain working. My challenge now is to get a few more men involved as I don’t have a single one yet.”

Ellie Cobb, who trained with Olympic swimmer, Mark Foster, and Strictly professionals, Natalie Lowe and Ian Waite, teaches classes at the following times:

Monday 9.30am-10.30am at the Anchor Centre, Skegby.

Monday 6.45pm-7.45pm at Ashfield School, Kirkby.

Wednesday 7.45pm-8.45pm at the Christine March school of dance, Kirkby.

Friday 10am-11am at Mary Magdalene Centre, Sutton.

Friday 6.30pm-7.30pm at the Anchor Centre, Skegby.

Contact Ellie on 07885593847 or email [email protected] for more information.