DANCE instructor Faye O’Connor is stepping out on a gruelling 24 hour danceathon – to raise vital cash for the Alzheimer’s Society.
And the indefatigable coach plans to do it all dressed as one of Santa’s elves.
“I wanted to do something throughout the pandemic using my skills,” said Faye who runs the company Xpress-Yourself.
“We do a lot of with the Alzheimer’s Society, doing workshops and the like, and I thought it would be a good charity to support.”
Best of all, she says, is that she’ll be joined online by dancers from across Solihull for the final 90 minutes of her marathon to see her over the finishing line.
“Last year we all did dance classes dressed as elves and we raised more than £700 for the charity, which I never imagined would be possible.
“I know all charities have been struggling this year so it would be good to get close to that amount.”
To keep her going through the 24 hours she’ll be holding classes, running workshops for care homes, and a children’s dance party.
Husband Luke will also be helping out for a salsa session but Faye admits that through the long hours of the night it will be her dancing on her own in the kitchen.
“I’ve always wanted to use dance to help people and then I got the job at The Core Theatre working with older adults and it just went from there,” she said.
Now with classes in Marston Green, Bentley Heath and Shirley among the 12 she runs across the region, all currently online, she’s proving a hit at keeping people active and having fun.
“I’ll be dancing all the way through and I’ll eat and drink as I go. My only breaks will be to nip to the toilet and then there will be Power Point pieces on the work of the Alzheimer’s Society,” she said.
Faye’s danceathon is this Friday, December 4 starting at 10am and it will all be filmed live in Facebook at
