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About

SS Dance & Wellbeing, founded by dance movement practitioner Sophie Simpson, is a dance, health and wellness organisation creating an environment that actively promotes the positive impact and benefits of engaging in dance. SS Dance & Wellbeing is focused on improving mental and physical health within Yorkshire communities through the implementation of dance movement and 1:1 wellness coaching.

Dancing can be a shortcut to better health, it's something that brings people together and is accessible for everyone. SS Dance & Wellbeings objective is to minimise in-activity, isolation and low mental wellbeing by use of dance movement classes, dance fitness, health and wellbeing events and 1:1 wellness coaching that are accessible to a wide range of people, communities and organisations.

SS Dance & Wellbeing aims to inspire peoples wellbeing through these key areas: 

  • Mental Health Wellbeing Scheme
  • Older Peoples Health Initiative 
  • Active Workplace Initiative
  • Active Communities
  • Wellness Days and Events
  • Online Dance and Fitness Classes
  • 1:1 Wellness Coaching
  • Partner Organisations
  • Young Peoples Dance & Movement 


About

What...

SS Dance and Wellbeing is implementing dance into the community to tackle the growing concerns of low mental health. We promote the beneficial impact dance can have on your physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. As Chief Wellbeing Officer, Sophie Simpson has a wealth of experience within dance delivery having gained a BA Honours degree in Dance Studies, with specialisms in Community Dance, Dance Business and Choreography & Performance. She specialises in work with older adults having gained qualifications in Chair-based Exercise for Frail and Elderly and Later Life Falls Prevention Exercise training. She also has level 2 qualifications in Mental Health Awareness and Health & Wellbeing.

Why...

So a bit about me... 

I have been working within health & Wellbeing for over 6 years specialising in dance movement as a form of light therapy for people suffering with low mental health but a lot of life expereince lead me to this pathway... I found that from a young age i struggled to deal with processing lots of information at once. My mind would switch off and i would easily loose concentration whilst becoming slightly stressed or feeling levels of anxiety. Being involved in creative tasks was the only thing that i seemed to excell in and it was the only thing that kept me occupied for long periods of time. 

Dance became the key, my passion for movement and music began to develop deeper from about the age of 11 years old. I began to notice changes in my mood and mindset when participating in creative physical activity. After dance classes or teaching i would feel more productive and have an all-round positive attitude. Over the years dance has grown into a big passion and has become something that now fuels everything that i am associated with. 

Creating a career in dance was always the vision - since leaving university i have been on an incredible dance journey. Teaching in primary and secondary schools across England, working a dance and delivery development role with the local council and a regional  team officer role with a North East community interest company. I became attached to working within health and wellbeing in 2014, i was facinated by the positive impact physical activity had on different groups of people and how this feeling resonated with me so i decided to pursue this line of work. It lead me to my dream pathway, which initially started with me creating a community organisation that uplifts others through dance. Stage two will be the introduction of wellness coaching in 2024. For stage 3 - watch this space!!

In April 2017 SS Dance & Wellbeing was born... An organisation built on passion, dance and it's potential to improve health and happiness in a wide range of people. In October 2018 i graduated and became a fellow of the The School for Social Entreprenuers programme in partnership with Lloyds Bank and the Big Lottery Fund, giving me the opportunity to build a commuinty business that aims to make a social change.

The purpose of SS Dance & Wellbeing is to give people that simple but effective sense of escapism through participation in dance, movement and fitness sessions and to inspire people to empower themselves to improve their own physical and mental wellbeing.


Values...

My social mission is about doing the right thing; my values are about doing this in the right way. I'll always be committed to living my values every day and they will help SS Dance & Wellbeing to make an impact in the following ways:

  • Making sure that i provide unique, top quality dance movement services.
  • Having the confidence to empower and challenge people in a safe space.
  • Create wider change in communities by working with partner organisations and suppliers who have similiar values to those of SS Dance & Wellbeing.

My values are:

  • PASSION: I am an organisation that is committed to inspiring people to have the motivation and enthusiasm to embrace and enjoy life. I will demonstrate my positivity and passion to those who access my services.
  • COMPASSION: I will always seek to genuinely understand the needs of others, in how i deliver my dance services. I hope my compassion and respect will help others to feel comfortable with being vulnerable because it's when people feel safe to be open that i can truly do my best for them.
  • CREATIVITY:  I will support people to unleash their creativity from within and deliver dance services to guide them to find positive solutions to improve their health and wellbeing. 

Class Schedule

Dance Fusion 50+

  • Bramley Community Centre, Waterloo Lane, Bramley, Leeds, LS13 2JB
  • Monday
  • 10:00 - 11:00
  • Older Peoples Health Initiative

SSDW Community Dance4Health

  • Thrive @ Connect, 21 Bond Street, Dewsbury, WF13 1AX
  • Monday
  • 13:30 - 14:30
  • Active Communities

Fitness DANCE Fusion Birstall

  • Birstall Community Centre, Market Street, Birstall, WF17 9EN
  • Monday
  • 19:15 - 20:00
  • Active Communities

Dance On - Yorkshire Dance Project

  • The United Reformed Church, Nestfield Road, Belle Isle, Leeds, LS10 3LG
  • Tuesday
  • 09:45 - 10:45
  • Older Peoples Health

Active Workplace Dance Fitness

  • Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, Education Centre, Sub-Basement
  • Tuesday
  • 17:30 - 18:15
  • Active workplace Initiative

Fitness DANCE Fusion Dewsbury

  • TransformHer LFG, 1st Floor, Headfield Mills, Cardwell Terrace, Dewsbury, WF12 9NP
  • Wednesday
  • 09:30 - 10:15
  • Active Communities

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