Ben keeps spirits up by leading dancing in the street in Blackpool

Dancer Ben Somerside helped keep up people's spirits during lockdown by running aerobic sessions in a Blackpool street - every day for 75 days.
Ben Somerside leading the session in South Shore, Blackpool. Pic: Scott SomersideBen Somerside leading the session in South Shore, Blackpool. Pic: Scott Somerside
Ben Somerside leading the session in South Shore, Blackpool. Pic: Scott Somerside

And from just a handful of people at the beginning, one session had 40 people dancing in the street on Lowfield Road in South Shore.

Ben, who lives in London where he dances professionally, is originally from Blackpool and came back home to stay with his parents, Scott and Julie, during lockdown because theatres closed during the pandemic.

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When one of his mum's neighbours told him how fed up she was about not being able to go to her slimming class and asked if he'd lead a dance session, he agreed.

He expected to run the session once - but it became 75!

Ben, 27, who has just returned to London, said: "My dad decided to put out a flyer for the local neighbours and it said they'd be running 'every day'!

"I was a bit shocked but I just kept them going and before long the numbers went from eight to about 40, on one occasion.

"I started every day at 12.30pm and we had people of all ages turning up.

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"It turned out to be very rewarding for me and good for everyone, because it became a community thing which brought people together.

"It gave me a structure to my days too."

Ben also had an optional collection tin out during the sessions and raised £200 towards an NHS fund.

Ben, who trained at the Performers' College in Essex, has worked on cruise liners with P&O, Princess and Royal Caribbean, and theatre performances include a run with the Pet Shop Boys' show, Closer to Heaven.

Natalie Meadows, a Blackpool slimming club manager, said: "Some of my members told me how this young lad has kept everyone active and stopped them going insane each day.

"He’s also raised money for the local hospital.

"The lady in my group is 70 years old and she has taken part every single day.

"It was such a fabulous things to do."

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