{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Written by Nicola Hilliard","standfirst":"","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"fullWidth","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EYou may have seen our fantastic Scouts ambassador, Ellie Simmonds, strutting her stuff on Saturday nights in BBC One\u0027s Strictly Come Dancing ballroom.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEllie\u2019s been amazing so far, making the Cha, Cha, Cha and Waltz look effortless and scoring some brilliant points in both.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u0027re so proud of you, Ellie!\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019ve been inspired by Ellie Simmonds on Strictly, you might want to hold your own Scouts dancing session or fundraising dance-a-thon. You could even make your own playlist and take requests beforehand.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/18742/mmp_6047_mmp.jpg","width":6048,"height":4032,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null}]}],"config":null},{"type":"fullWidth","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWarming up\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENow, are you ready to dance? It\u2019s good to get limbering up and stretching before you begin in.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou can have a dancing themed warm up by adapting our game, \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/copycat/\u0022\u003ECopycat\u003C/a\u003E. Make all the actions be dance moves and try to spot who\u2019s in charge of the group\u0027s actions.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019re looking for another warm up or a fun game to dance to, why not try our version of Musical chairs, \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.google.com/search?client=safari\u0026amp;rls=en\u0026amp;q=muscle\u002Bshuffle\u002Bscouts\u0026amp;ie=UTF-8\u0026amp;oe=UTF-8\u0022 data-anchor=\u0022?client=safari\u0026amp;rls=en\u0026amp;q=muscle\u002Bshuffle\u002Bscouts\u0026amp;ie=UTF-8\u0026amp;oe=UTF-8\u0022\u003EMuscle\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.google.com/search?client=safari\u0026amp;rls=en\u0026amp;q=muscle\u002Bshuffle\u002Bscouts\u0026amp;ie=UTF-8\u0026amp;oe=UTF-8\u0022 data-anchor=\u0022?client=safari\u0026amp;rls=en\u0026amp;q=muscle\u002Bshuffle\u002Bscouts\u0026amp;ie=UTF-8\u0026amp;oe=UTF-8\u0022\u003E shuffle\u003C/a\u003E,\u003C/span\u003E or get moving in \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/musical-statues/\u0022\u003EMusical statues\u003C/a\u003E?\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen you\u2019re all ready and warmed up, you can begin. There\u2019s lots of ways you can get everyone dancing!\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStrictly inspired dancing\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHas anyone got any moves to show off? Create a dance circle and see if you can remember your favourite dances, then put them together\u00A0\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/in-the-groove/\u0022\u003EIn the groove\u003C/a\u003E. You might want to do this in smaller groups and then perform for each other.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHave you heard of the Samba? You may have seen it on Strictly. Brazil\u2019s where the Samba comes from. You could join in and dance at your own Carnival by \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/play-maracas-for-the-brazilian-carnival/\u0022\u003Emaking your own maracas\u003C/a\u003E or even \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/let-s-celebrate-caribbean-carnival/\u0022\u003Emake some colourful headbands\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHave you noticed how all the different dances have their own styles, moves and music? Do you have a favourite one? Explore them in \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/daily-dance/\u0022\u003EDaily dance\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou could also become a \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/super-shaker-music-maker/\u0022\u003ESuper shaker, music maker\u003C/a\u003E. Make your own musical instrument, get out your dancing shoes and use your imagination to create your own dance move.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/18741/scouts_squirrelsendofyear_0786_v0400_00_20_20still015-edit-copy.jpg","width":1920,"height":1080,"altText":"A young Squirrel is smiling while wearing a sparkly, gold tinsel wig and big, red, star shaped glasses. He is wearing a necker and against a gold tinsel backdrop.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStepping away from the ballroom\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELooking for something a little more unusual and away from the Strictly ballroom? Why not try \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/dancing-in-the-dark/\u0022\u003EDancing in the dark\u003C/a\u003E? Find some LED wristbands or use torches to bust out your moves.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETake on a ceilidh and bust a move to this traditional groove from Scotland by learning to \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/strip-the-willow/\u0022\u003EStrip the Willow\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOnce warmed up and ready to take on a challenge, you could even try \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/the-stave-dance/\u0022\u003EStave dancing\u003C/a\u003E. A stave is a long pole, and you\u2019ve got to make sure it doesn\u2019t drop!\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGetting everyone involved\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDoes anyone in your group, volunteers, young leaders or parents and carers know how to dance? Would they be able to teach some toe-tingling tap, super street dance or the basics of ballet? Ask them to put on some small workshops in \u003Ca href=\u0022/activities/skills-superstars/\u0022 title=\u0022Skills superstars\u0022\u003Eskills superstars\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019re wondering how to share your new dancing skills with your local community, put on your own \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/the-gang-show-must-go-on/\u0022\u003EGang Show\u003C/a\u003E. You could even make it into your own mini-Strictly, and choose people to be judges and presenters.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/18743/dsc_5680_mmp.jpg","width":7360,"height":4912,"altText":"A young group of Squirrels are stood outside and smiling, wearing red jumpers and neckers. There are two boys and one girl. The girl has her arms in the air and is dancing.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBeen inspired?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHas Ellie Simmonds inspired you to put on your dancing shoes? It might be a good opportunity to take some time to see how disability is presented on screen.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDive into some research, then add a new disabled character to your favourite TV show in \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/what-s-on-your-tv/\u0022\u003EWhat\u2019s on your TV?\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou might also be inspired by Ellie\u2019s Paralympic victories. Why not try earning your \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/staged-badges/swimmer/\u0022\u003ESwimmer\u003C/a\u003E Staged Activity Badge, too?\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"03 October 2022","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"Fundraising support","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-things-locally/grants-and-funds-for-your-local-group/fundraising-support/","newWindow":true},{"caption":"","title":"Our interview with Ellie Simmonds","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2021/march/an-interview-with-ellie-simmonds/","newWindow":true},{"caption":"","title":"Music licensing requirements","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-your-section/administration/music-licensing-requirements/","newWindow":true}],"relatedLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"Meet our Ambassadors","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/about-us/our-people/scout-ambassadors/","newWindow":true},{"caption":"","title":"Scouts activity finder","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities?name=scottish","newWindow":true},{"caption":"","title":"Musical performances toolkit","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-your-section/programme-guidance/general-activity-guidance/creative-activities/musical-performances/","newWindow":true}],"id":48716,"nodeName":"Inspired by our Ellie Simmonds on Strictly? Then keep dancing!","title":"Inspired by our Ellie Simmonds on Strictly? Then keep dancing!","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/2954/scout-ambassador-ellie-simmonds.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d63eeeec89ca00","caption":"Scout-Ambassador-Ellie-Simmonds.jpg","type":"jpg","size":103525,"width":770,"height":500,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Inspired by our Ellie Simmonds on Strictly? 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