My mother tap dances

Cameron Joshua Morgan, my nephew, 11 years old and going on 30, is always one step ahead of everyone. As he flies off the living room sofa, springing into the kitchen, little does he know that he is seamlessly about to turn a quiet Saturday evening upside down. Bursting with curiosity he enquires, "Gran, gran, gran! Is that you on Britain's Got Talent?... and without a moment to find cover, he's got her surrounded, "I've just seen you in your black and silver tap thing!"

For two months, Lesley Skinner, owner of The Grange Tea rooms Rottingdean UK, mother of three, grandmother to Cameron, thought she had kept her secret safe. During a somewhat relaxed evening, her whole family was in for one big surprise and yes, that most definitely was Gran on Britain's got Talent.

Now we've all seen an act that has been shunned by meanie Simon Cowell in the first few seconds, and 'Taptastik,' the UK Brighton-based tap dancing troupe run by ex-professional dancer Andrew Wood was no exception, to begin with.

Yet with a firmly grounded yes from Amanda Holden as well as David Walliams, and a withdrawal of her 'beep' from Alesha Dixon - this 'stepping out' moment won my mother and her local tap dancing troupe, a ripple into the next round of UK'S biggest talent competition on television.

While fireworks are going off back home in the quaint British countryside, I'm cooking dinner in my high rise apartment block amongst the dunes of the desert, here in Dubai. My WhatsApp pops up and my jaw drops, as I stare at a picture of my 63-year-old mother and her exceptionally good set of pins in fishnet tights, talking live with Lorraine from ITV.

Being one of the eldest on the Taptastik team, my mother realised she had a lot to stand for. She says "It's a nice dream on the bucket list but you never think you're actually going be able to go on a talent show at your age."

Lesley wants to make older people realise that, "There is no need to treat yourself any differently just because you're getting older. If there is something you've always wanted to try out, or feel you have a special talent to share, don't be scared or think it's too young for you."

Andrew Wood owner and founder of Taptastik, heading towards the big 50 next year stated, "You're only as young as you feel. If you have a medical problem speak to your doctor first, but if anything, tap gets you moving, floods your body with endorphins and makes you feel great!" Tap dancing can also help with medical problems. Lesley adds, "Twelve years ago I had terrible problems with my knees. It was sometimes too painful even to walk. The doctor advised exercise routines around the knees. I liked tap dancing when I was a child, so I thought, why not start a class again as it works the knees well. Two weeks later and the pain in my knees had diminished!"

The Taptastik team has an age-band from 19 to 63, all coming from different backgrounds, shapes and sizes. Andrew Wood states, "My classes are not just about tap in the end; people join for many different reasons - exercise, team work, good social life, friendship, escapism" (You can follow Taptastik's success by going to facebook.com/Taptastik).

Some would say tap dancing is an old-fashioned style of dancing, linking it only to the wonderful old time musicals of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Although on a personal level, this era with all its romance very much appeals to me. to some, Simon Cowell ie, there is no interest in what is past. Ironically though, tap has many different styles, and it's the impact of that style which actually decides whether it is modern or not, although the steps may be exactly be the same. Take the award winning musical by Dein Perry for instance - these guys are actually still using the same basic steps as Taptastik, yet with a more raw and urban approach in terms of style and choreography.

We tend to box and stereotype dance forms towards certain types of people, but Taptastik has highlighted that tap dancing and dancing in general, is for everyone.

I think we can all be guilty in waiting for the right moment to begin something new and contemplating whether or not it's a good idea. Yet looking at my mother, tapping against girls 40 years younger than her, I've realised there isn't ever really a 'right time'.It's definitely more about trying.

Andrew says and truly believes, "Tap keeps me young!" and Lesley now feels it's about "just giving it a go!" However we'd like to know, is your own self -judgement stopping you from getting out there and fulfilling your dream(s)? Is there something you wanted to try but felt you were "past it"? We'd love to hear from you!

Source: Khaleej Times