Rock and roll has shaped lives since it emerged as a musical genre 70 years ago. Today, it is making a difference for a group of young people with special needs in Cambridge.
Shane Samuelson from the Cambridge Cruisers shows Courtney Duncan some dance moves.
The group, aged 16 to 30, meets regularly at the Town Hall to socialise and express themselves through music and movement in a safe and supportive environment.
At last week’s workshop they welcomed the Cambridge Cruisers, who wanted to introduce them to rock ‘n’ roll dancing.
It started with a demonstration by club members Jo and Graham Baldwin who danced to Dion DiMucci’s 1961 hit The Wanderer.
Graham and Jo Baldwin dance to The Wanderer.
Cruisers spokesperson Steve Cooper said the performance captivated the group and sparked their enthusiasm.
The next activity was teaching the basic four count movement of rock and roll which was done in pairs with coaching from members of the Cruisers. Then they learned the left and right turns where the gentlemen’s role is to lead the ladies into the turns.
“Some of the ladies had fun playing the gentlemen’s role with a partner,” said Cooper.
But the most fun was the Shimmy, done by both partners leaning towards and away from each other while shaking the upper body.
The fun finished with two rounds of a group dance known as the Clap Clap.
“All had a lot of fun at the workshop, and it was personally rewarding to both the Rockit Crew and Cambridge Cruisers members,” said Cooper who said a future workshop was planned.
Rockit Crew founder Jordan Beddoe said the weekly workshops give an opportunity to young people with special needs to have complete expression, learn social and independence skills, exercise, and improve their abilities to navigate the adult world.
Graham Baldwin from the Cambridge Cruisers shows Ruby Verran some dance moves.
The Clap Clap Dance provided fun and hilarity.
