A DANCE school is running free online classes and challenges to keep dancers moving and upbeat in lockdown.

Boogie Shoes Dance Academy, in Dovercourt, is running classes via Zoom for its tots and teenagers.

Katie Gooch, founder and dance teacher, said: “Some of these children are used to dancing and seeing their friends every evening. To be locked inside without dance is a massive change for them.

“On the Zoom classes they get to see their friends too.”

Every Saturday the school is hosting Quarantines’ Got Talent on its private Instagram page for its current pupils.

Short video clips by the contestants are posted on to the page and members have to vote for the winner by 8pm.

Katie added: “The lucky performer wins a fresh cake delivery on the Sunday evening.”

The school’s performing arts company teachers Abbie Lewis and Katie Rawlins-Waumsley have been setting weekend musical theatre challenges too which can be viewed on Facebook.

It includes a video thanking key workers.

Katie said: “Our biggest project was a rock’n’roll video we created called Dance Your Cares Away which includes personalised messages to residents in residential homes.

“It included near 100 of our dancers in their beautiful costumes.

“We really hope the upbeat music and dancing mixed with the lovely messages bought a smile to a lot of people.”

The school has also been setting up daily challenges for children and their parents.

Katie said: “When we return, we hope to come back stronger than ever. Our teacher Georgia Hunter is running online private lessons and I know so many children have been learning new dance skills from the industry professionals who are sharing their talents and choreography on live feeds daily.

“I am so proud to be a part of the performance industry, and throughout this lockdown, dancers, dance teachers and performers have proven that we do not do this job for any financial gain, we all do this job because it is the best job in the world.

“And even though being self employed is hard right now, I can honestly say, every time I see one of my dancers on screen, it brightens my day.”