The Rhythms Club Hits a High Note: Brixton's Over 60s Dance Project Expands with Major Funding Boost!
Brixton social enterprise Unbound Moving Arts CIC is thrilled to announce that its outreach project for older people, ‘The Rhythms Club,’ will be doubling its capacity starting July 2024, thanks to substantial new funding from the Lambeth Council Changing Lives Fund. The program will now offer weekly sessions.
In the heart of Brixton, in partnership with AgeUK Lambeth MySocial Community hub, the project has grown increasingly popular with a diverse group of elders from around Lambeth with sessions in 2023/24 regularly reaching full capacity.
Dancers at The Rhythms Club have for some time been calling for their favourite Club to go weekly.
Jeanne Nguyen, Administrator at Age UK Lambeth's Vida Walsh Community Centre, said:
"Unbound's Rhythms Club at Vida's Community Space is so popular with MYSocial members that we regularly have a waiting list and the feedback is always positive. Those who attend leave feeling relaxed and full of wellbeing. Thank you Nikki and Crew for providing this beneficial session.”
5Rhythms teacher and project founder Nikki Ashley said:
“This is a fantastic opportunity for The Rhythms Club at Vida’s! We are going from strength to strength, and with this latest injection of energy and funds from the Lambeth Changing Lives Fund we can really start to become an embodied presence in the community. With weekly sessions we are providing more opportunities for our dancers to grow in confidence & improve their mobility. It is very rewarding to see how the dancers are changed by these sessions, no matter how they arrive, before long the whole room is moving! Often dancers will reflect that their pain has lessened after dancing, or their sense of well being has improved, and most appreciate a sense of belonging here. We really are “changing lives” and this funding is deeply appreciated. Thank you Lambeth Council!”
The Rhythms Club project focuses on addressing health and wellbeing for older people, attracting a broad demographic of participants from diverse ethnic backgrounds. The average age excluding carers is over 70.
One long term Rhythms Club dancer says:
“It’s a reason to improve my mobility and leave the house. Coming here gives me a sense of belonging and fills me with joy!”
Through these 5Rhythms classes, the project creates an environment that enhances the quality of life for older people through accessible and enjoyable movement and dance. There are no specific steps to follow; instead, free movement cultivates personal creativity and expression while also building muscle mass and improving joint mobility. In addition, the classes provide invaluable benefits of social connection, which the facilitator further cultivates through a 'sharing circle' at the end of each class. In short, it's great exercise and a wonderful way to make new friends.
Notes:
The Changing Lives grant money supports the Rhythms Club from June to the end of May 2025
The Rhythms Club currently takes place every Thursday at the Vida Walsh Centre at 2.00pm - 3.45pm. To book you can go directly to MYSocial and join up https://mysocial.london/lambethjoin/ or call 0203 1435 695 & leave a message to book the Rhythms Club, or simply come along any Thursday at 2pm (except for summers hols August 15/22/29)
Rhythms Club Photo: Here are some of the dancers receiving the news
Information about Unbound Moving Arts available here and on Instagram.
Unbound Moving Arts will be seeking more funding to significantly expand the project into a bigger venue from June 2025.
