by Richard Buckley, Editor, Business Eye

Have you already been consumed by the return of BBC Strictly Come Dancing? Well if you have the glitter ball trophy in your sights dust off your own dancing shoes and Dance for a Difference this autumn. Self Help Africa and British Red Cross is searching for 32 fledgling fox-trotters, budding ballerinas and up-and-coming congo stars for an entertaining competitive dance off in front of a live audience hosted by broadcaster Claire McCollum in The Whitla Hall, Belfast, on Saturday 1 December.


Dancers will be trained by professional choreographers for nine weeks leading up to the event, to be fully prepared to stake your claim on the glitter ball trophy.

Dance for a Difference aims to raise vital funds for people both at home and abroad through the British Red Cross and Self Help Africa.

Frankie McClure of Self Help Africa said: “If you like to dance or have always dreamed of being professionally trained now’s your chance to take part in a fun event for a great cause. We’re not looking for our dancers to already be Strictly standard, if you’re a beginner you are more than welcome to join in. You’ll learn from professional choreographers, with all the glitz and glamour you would expect, and you’ll dazzle the audience with your moves at our Dance for a Difference extravaganza! We are dedicated to ending hunger and poverty in rural Africa and this event gives us an opportunity to raise vital funds for Self Help Africa’s life changing work across sub-Saharan Africa. Funds raised will to help rural farmers and their families grow and sell more food, improve diets, diversity and grow incomes.”

Charlotte King of British Red Cross said: “We’re so excited to launch our search for this year’s Dance for a Difference stars! You might not know your Pasodoble from your Rumba, but if you’ve always dreamed of taking the dance floor by storm and learning to dance just like the TV stars now’s your chance to make that dream come true.

“You’ll train once per week at Queen’s PEC in Belfast, starting on October 2nd with Ballroom Blitz NI’s professional dance trainers helping each and every one of us on our way. And all the money you raise will be used to fund local Red Cross work including support to people after house fires, floods and other emergencies, independent living services, which assist vulnerable people on their return home from hospital and prevent unnecessary hospital admissions, community first aid training and support for refugees and asylum seekers.

“Across the UK, the Red Cross responds to an emergency every four hours. Red Cross volunteers provide practical and emotional support for local people facing these situations every week. The charity also works in many local schools to help young people develop the skills and confidence to take humanitarian action.

“If you’re interested please don’t be shy and get in touch with either myself or Frankie – it’ll be nice to see you … to see you, nice!”

To register for a chance to win Dance for a Difference contact: Frankie McClure on 028 9023 2064 or email frankie.mcclure@selfhelpafrica.org or Charlotte King on 028 9073 5367 or cking@redcross.org.

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Broadcaster Claire McCollum is joined by Frankie McClure of Self Help Africa and Charlotte King of British Red Cross to launch the fundraiser which takes place in Whitla Hall on Saturday 1 December.

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