diddi dance

diddi dance exclusive Music, Movement and Dance expert on What’s On 4 Kids directory

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📣 Exciting news 📣

We’re buzzing to be the exclusive Music, Movement and Dance Expert on What’s On 4 Kids – the UK’s best directory of classes personalised for your children and your area 💃🏻🕺🏿🎶

To celebrate the safe return of children’s classes this April, What’s On 4 Kids are giving away a YEAR’S WORTH OF FREE CHILDREN’S CLASSES.

Anyone who has signed up to be a member of the What’s On 4 Kids site is eligible to win up to £1000 to redeem on classes. Perhaps even with diddi dance! If you have already signed up, then please share with a friend!

So sign up for your free membership here

Let’s Get Busy Again!

diddi dance welcomed four new franchisees in 2020

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We are absolutely thrilled to have welcomed four new franchisees to our network in the last year.

Laura, Constantina and Gemma all took over existing franchises that have been running for a number of years and Andrea opened up in a brand new area of Southampton.

Meet them here and feel free to contact them to find out more (face to face classes are currently paused but may be running an online option)

 

Laura Hughes – South East Hampshire & Chichester

“I absolute love teaching dance and sharing my passion with all of your lovely children. I was very diddi myself when I first started dancing at the age of 4 and am proud to have graduated from the University of Chichester with a BA Hons Degree in Dance in 2016. Being able to work in dance full time is a dream come true and I am very thankful for everyone’s ongoing support”.

 

 

 

 

 

Constantina Menezes – Enfield & Potters Bar

“Hey, I’m Constantina but everyone calls me Cos.

I have been dancing from a young age entering dance competitions, and I attended a dance academy from the age of 3. I continued my love for dancing and performing arts at Chickenshed Theatre and got the chance to perform at The Royal Albert Hall. I am qualified Level 3 and Level 5 Early Years Practitioner.

I can’t wait to meet all your diddi faces and be dancing and having fun with you.”

 

 

 

 

Gemma Edmenson –Eastbourne, Tunbridge Wells & Hastings

“I’m Gemma, mum to a very lively little boy and ex professional dancer. In my pre-child life I trained in dance and musical theatre and danced in various productions both in the UK and internationally. I also taught various dance classes and choreographed for a variety of different projects.

I first came across diddi dance as a mum, when I took my then 18 month old son along to his first class 2 years ago. We both absolutely loved it from the start. It was so nice to see the children grow in confidence and being encouraged to develop at their own pace, whilst being introduced to so many different dance styles. I am very much looking forward to helping lots of children and parents enjoy dancing together, just as I did with my own little one!”

 

Andrea McCrea – Southampton

“Hello! I’m Andrea and you are all very welcome at diddi dance Southampton! Dance has always featured in my life, from the ballet and tap classes I attended from age 3, to having a good old boogie with the girls on a Saturday night aged…well that’s a secret! And although dance styles and music influences have changed, my love of moving to music has remained a constant.

diddi dance really is so much more than dancing to music. It offers the children physical and social development in a fun and friendly way. Children are free to express themselves, be creative and burn off their boundless energy! And for adults? Well, we get to be part of the fun too as our involvement nurtures and supports the growth of their confidence and abilities.

diddi dance’s unique tunes are just so catchy that they’ll get your toes a-tapping and your hips a-wiggling and I cannot wait to share this with you at a diddi dance class in Southampton.”

 

Have you thought about a diddi dance franchise?

Are you thinking about starting a new business in 2021? Would you like to find out more? See what some of our current franchisees have to say and take a look at our franchise page for more information or contact Recruitment Franchise Manager Donna, who’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have. 

Group Ex-Festival powered by classfinder running this weekend 25-27th September

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📣 Join us this weekend for the classfinder Group Ex Festival  📣
@classfinder is running a three-day group ex festival from 25th-27th September 2020. There are classes for all ages and abilities, with over 40 fitness brands delivering 45-minute virtual sessions via Zoom 🎉

Our diddi dance session with Anne-Marie will be at 11am on Sunday morning, you can join us for just £5 for a household or if you are interested in taking part in more than three classes, we recommend you purchase our weekend class pass for £15.

This event is raising funds to help out the Community Fitness Network Get Yer Kit On project, which works to support young women around the UK to access physical activity. The initiative provides group exercise opportunities and sports clothing, as well as accessible training to increase employability and promote positive mental health. Find out more here: https://www.communityfitnessnetwork.org/get-yer-kit-on

🏆 Each ticket sold will be entered into a raffle to win a £2,000 Virgin Holidays voucher, courtesy of Raffolux. With a two year time frame in which to use the voucher in the UK or abroad, you can rest assured your future plans are safe. Terms and conditions apply. See Raffolux website here: https://raffolux.com/tcs/

DON’T MISS OUT! Get your tickets now: https://bookwhen.com/classfinderfestival#focus=ev-sqoj-20200925181500

24 hour diddi danceathon for Caudwell Children

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Will you be joining us on Saturday 27th June, to see our founder, Anne-Marie Martin attempt a 24hour diddi danceathon for Caudwell Children?💃🏻🕺🏾

This week should have been Children’s Activities Week 2020 and while we wait for the right time for it to take place, we are excited to help raise vital funds for Caudwell Children’s emergency fundraising appeal.

This awesome charity changes the lives of disabled children by providing access to the services, equipment, therapies and treatments they so desperately need 💚💗💙

We can’t wait for the challenge to begin and see which exciting guests will be joining her online.

If you would like to sponsor Anne-Marie you can do so here 🤩

The event will be streamed live on our diddi dance facebook and instagram pages.

We hope you will join us and all support is welcomed. See you then!

#themovingmission

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“We simply need to move more during the day, throughout the day, every day. I believe we should stop talk about exercise altogether and start thinking instead about movement” David Higgins, Personal Trainer to the Stars.

We want children to be physically active for life and this year we bring you #themovingmission 💚💗💙

Anne-Marie says “Setting healthy habits in children before the age of 5, is so important to how movement is viewed throughout life. Physical activity releases endorphins creating positive emotions and feelings which promote emotional and mental health as well as the obvious health and fitness benefits. It can help relieve stress and enforce body positivity. Activities in the early years are key and by encouraging both genders in non-competitive activities can help with their confidence and social skills.

Being physically active should be fun, something to enjoy and look forward to rather than too disciplined and intimidating. Positively encouraging children to be active will impact their views and behaviours into school and even adult life. My passion lies in dancing although we want to encourage all forms of physical activity with #themovingmission. diddi dance sessions are all-inclusive which we believe promotes acceptance of diversity and all abilities.”

Will you join us in the #themovingmission and encourage a love of moving that will last a lifetime?

diddi dance becomes a hero partner for CAW2020

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diddi dance are excited to announce that we have officially become a hero partner for Children’s Activity Week 2020.

Children’s Activity Week will take place next summer from 8th-13th June 2020 to fundraise for Caudwell Children.

Its also a chance for us to celebrate the hundreds of thousands of activities, clubs and classes running across the UK, benefiting both parents and children, from babies to primary school age. The variety of activities highlight the many health, well-being, social and educational benefits for the whole family.

Along with the inspiring and dedicated people, companies and experts that provide these amazing activities, everyone takes part in a whole week of fun and fundraising to change the lives of children with autism and continues to raise standards across all children’s activities.

The theme in 2019 was ‘Watch Me Fly’ and raised a staggering £139,000.

The launch event takes place in February so look out for more information, and we hope you’ll be able to join us in one of our classes during the week to celebrate.

Children’s Activities Week – 13-17th May 2019

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UK children join TV stars Dick & Dom and take on diddi dance’s Watch Me Fly Challenge as part of national fundraising campaign for autism in Children’s Activities Week

Groups of enthusiastic children all across the UK are set to take on a sponsored Watch Me Fly dance challenge with children’s toddler and preschool dance classes, diddi dance, as a challenge this week, 13th – 17th May, as part of a national campaign in Children’s Activities Week, to raise money to improve support for children with autism, with charity Caudwell Children.

The challenge will take place as part of the regular diddi dance classes and the children will swap their normal classes for the sponsored challenge as part of the national Children’s Activities Week campaign.

diddi dance children, from classes nationwide, will form part of an estimated 120,000 children across the country in completing the challenge as part of the national campaign to raise awareness and money to provide support for autistic children through the charity, Caudwell Children.

Autism directly affects over 2.5million people in the UK every day and it is proven that early detection and intervention is the most effective way of managing behaviour relating to autism. But across the UK families can regularly wait years to receive an autism assessment for their child and, once diagnosed, often have to fight for any kind of support.

The money raised from the sponsored challenge will fund assessments and practical support for autistic children at the new Caudwell International Children’s Centre, the UK’s first independent purpose-built centre dedicated to autism.

Activity Leader, Anne-Marie Martin, founder of diddi dance, said:
“We are proud to be a part of Children’s Activities Week and all of the children have had lots of fun practicing for our diddi dance Watch Me Fly challenge this week.

At diddi dance we are passionate about giving children the best start in life and by taking part in Children’s Activities Week we are taking that beyond our classes and helping other children as well.”

Children’s Activities Week is a partnership between the Children’s Activities Association, a not-for-profit membership organisation and national charity, Caudwell Children.

 

For more information about Children’s Activities Week or Caudwell Children visit www.caudwellchildren.com/caw2019.

 

diddi dance nominated for What On 4 Kids Awards 2019

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diddi dance are excited to say we have been nominated for two What’s On 4 Kids Awards 2019 in the following categories:

Most Loved Music, Dance or Performing Arts Activity – Franchisor or Independent Taught By 30+ Leaders
Most Loved Party Activity – with 40+ Leaders Overall

These awards celebrate the UK’s biggest brands in the world of kids’ activities, the nations most talented teachers and class leaders, the most amazing volunteers and best party people – as nominated and voted for by the experts – parents, carers and parents-to-be.

If you can spare a minute please vote for us then wish us luck for a win!

Closing date for voting is 12 noon on 24th June 2019.

All About diddi dance Reading & Wokingham

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diddi dance Franchisee Andrea who runs diddi dance Reading & Wokingham recently became the 6th diddi dance franchise to be fully accredited by the Children’s Activity Association. To read all about her recent achievement just click here.

Because of this success, we at diddi dance wanted to take the time to tell you all about Andrea and diddi dance Reading & Wokinham here!

How long have you been with diddi dance?

I launched my first class in January 2014 – so I’m now well into my sixth year.

What did you do before joining diddi dance?

After completing a degree in Sports Science, I started out working as a Lifestyle Consultant in a Health Club, where I also taught Exercise to Music classes. I then moved on to Leisure Centre, and finally, Sports Park management where I also completed a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (Sports Management) by distance learning. After about a decade I fancied a change from operational work and took on the role of Account Manager at a specialist Sports/Fitness Public Relations agency. My clients here included Life Fitness, Leisure Connection, DC Leisure and Lifetime Training. I continued working at Promote PR until my second child was born in 2010.
Over the years I’ve participated in many different dance disciplines from Ballroom to Belly to Bollywood! My major interest, since the age of three, has been Highland dancing. Following my competitive career, the pinnacle of which was winning the English Championships, I began dancing professionally (on a part-time basis whilst studying). I was lucky enough to perform in cabaret at many top London hotels, with engagements further afield including tours of Japan, Sicily and Spain.

What do you love most about diddi dance and running your own business?

I believe that in order to make any business successful, you need to be passionate about your product or service – and dance is my passion. Quite simply – I love dancing and moving to music! I think dance is one of the best ways to keep fit, healthy and happy. As a child I used to spend hours dancing around my dining room to my dad’s records and I love that I now get to do this as my full-time job! I honestly believe that the role of diddi dance franchisee was made for me – as I get to combine my love of dance with the knowledge and experience of business management I’ve gained over the years. And it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to share my joy and enthusiasm for dancing with hundreds of young children and to help inspire them to get moving!

What has been the best thing that has happened to you because of diddi dance?

Whilst it’s been hard work, it’s also been incredibly rewarding, both professionally and personally. I think it would be fair to say that diddi dance gave me back a real sense of purpose, self-worth, confidence and control – all things that I feel I lost somewhere along the line between being a full time employee and becoming a ‘stay at home’ mum.
It’s always amazing, and humbling, to witness how much of an impact you’ve had on your little students’ lives. I love seeing children blossom in class from shy little toddlers, clinging to mum; to confident young children – happy to show off their funky moves at the front of the class! And it’s always really special to hear parents telling you that their child has named their favourite cuddly toy after you; or doesn’t stop talking about diddi dance all week; or gallops their way down the aisle in Sainsbury’s; or pretends to be you – calling the register for their dolls; or makes their vegetables at tea time do the ‘Circle Dance’ around their plate! All these things are simply priceless.

What has been a highlight for you since taking on your diddi dance?

I think attending the launch event for the Reading Children’s Festival again last year and having so many previous and current diddi dancers and parents seek me out and tell me how much they love diddi dance, or how much their little one gets/got from the classes, or how great they think one of my teachers is – has to be a real highlight. Not least because it represents the huge journey I’ve taken… From the first time I attended the event (five years ago) – when I could barely get anyone to even take a flyer from me! But perseverance pays and year by year, as the company has grown, I’ve gone from being largely ignored that first year, to feeling like a bit of a minor celebrity five years down the line!

What is something you are looking forward to as you continue with your diddi dance franchise?

I really enjoy all aspects of running the business. I get a real buzz from the practical teaching side, but I also love the marketing, financial management, business planning, HR management, accounting and even the administration! I’ve got a very clear plan of what I want to achieve this year and what direction I want the business to go in, so I’m looking forward to working towards my goals and objectives and continuing to grow.

What do you enjoy most about your diddi dance?

It’s very hard to beat the magical feeling you get when you have a class full of toddlers all giggling at your silly antics and you know you’ve got them completely engaged and absorbed in the activity!

What do you enjoy most about being your own Boss?

I’m quite self-motivated and hard working so I really like the fact that “you get out what you put in” when you’re running your own business. I’ve been able to achieve a (fairly) healthy work/life balance and can work my hours around what’s best for my family. Having ultimate control over the growth of the business has been great and I love that I’ve had the opportunity to scale it up as my children have become a little more independent and my available work hours have increased.

What does the CAA accreditation mean to you?

I always set myself and my team the highest of standards, as I truly believe that “if a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well!” I pride myself on the quality of service I provide my customers and, wherever possible, I try to exceed their expectations, so it means a lot to be awarded Gold accreditation from the CAA. With so many toddler classes around today, I believe it’s really important for parents to have the peace of mind that the activity they’ve chosen is setting the benchmark for quality control in all aspects of the business.

And finally, what is your favourite diddi dance theme and why?

For me, variety is the spice of life, so each time a new theme begins, it feels like my new favourite! (Having 16 different dance styles to work through is one of the things I love best about diddi dance.) But if I really have to choose one, I would go for the Jive – I love the full on energy and commitment required and the sheer joy that you can’t help feeling when you’re kicking and flicking! And the ‘Dinnertime’ track used for the Jive is toe-tappingly brilliant!

 

diddi dance Reading & Wokingham currently has multiple classes running across their exclusive area. They are as follows:

Mondays

  • 9.30am at Caversham Heights Methodist Church, 74 Highmoor Road, RG4 7BG
  • 10am at Emmanuel Church Centre, Southlake Crescent, Woodley, RG5 3QW

Tuesdays

  • 10am at Lord Harris Court, Mole Road, Sindlesham, RG41 5EA (inter-generational class)
  • 10am at St Luke’s Parish Hall, Erleigh Road, Reading, RG1 5QY
  • 1.45pm at Tilehurst Methodist Church, 26 School Road, RG31 5AN

Wednesdays

  • 10am at St Barnabas Church Hall, Elm Road, Earley, RG6 5TS
  • 1.45pm at Wokingham Community Centre, 35 Reading Road, RG41 1EG

Thursdays

  • 10am at Wokingham Community Centre, 35 Reading Road, RG41 1EG

Fridays

  • 10am at Reading YMCA, (Sports Hall), 34 Parkside Road, RG30 2DD
  • 1.45pm at Shinfield Parish Hall, School Green, RG2 9EH

Saturdays

  • 9am & 10am at Radstock Community Centre, Radstock Lane, Lower Earley, RG6 5UZ
  • 9am & 10am at Coronation Hall, Headley Road, Woodley, RG5 4JB

#dressupanddiddidance for Macmillan Cancer Support

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diddi dancers across the UK to Dress Up and Dance to battle Cancer

We want all our diddi dancers to put on their dancing shoes next week as our classes have partner up with Macmillan Cancer Support to get little ones moving and grooving in aid of the charity’s Dress Up And Dance campaign.1962786_10153271829130795_2192111685474646222_n

The national campaign is a perfect fit for us and we hope it will see parents & children don colourful, creative and whacky fancy dress to attend our classes all next week. To celebrate this year’s theme of ‘heroes’, there will be specially themed classes across the UK for the whole family to enjoy including… So toddlers joining in can seek costume inspiration from anywhere such as sport to music to politics, so feel free to let their imagination run wild.

Macmillan Cancer Support is a fantastic charity that provides all kinds of support to children and families affected by cancer. They help with financial worries, medical information, emotional support and much, much more. They’re also constantly campaigning for better cancer care for all because no one should face cancer alone.

Founder of diddi dance, Anne-Marie Martin commented:

We are so proud and excited to be involved in Macmillan’s fantastic Dress Up And Dance campaign again this year, it is a natural fit with our weekly dance classes and dressing up is something that we know all our little ones and families will thoroughly enjoy. I hope we raise a fantastic amount this year!

Macmillan is a charity that is especially close to our hearts and resonates with the whole diddi dance team as we have all been affected in one way or another by this disease. The work of the charity to support everyone affected by cancer is truly remarkable and we hope that the money we raise helps Macmillan to continue their worthwhile and essential work to support those affected by cancer.”

From Saturday 11 to Friday 17 June, diddi dance classes across the UK will be taking part in Macmillan Cancer Support’s Dress Up and Dance campaign. All we ask in return is a small donation of £2 for this wonderful charity. To find your local diddi dance class just click here.

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To see more of the dress up fun our diddis had taking part last year just click here. To join in the fun on social media simply look out for & use the hashtag #dressupanddiddidance

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