A community centre in Twickenham has partnered with Age UK Richmond to organise ‘daytime discos’ for over 55 year-olds to enjoy old-school music.
East Twickenham Neighbourhood Association (ETNA) Community Centre will host their second disco from 3pm – 5pm on 25 September after their first sold out.
The event features disco music from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s and attendees are asked to make two song requests on entry to get everyone involved in the fun.
ETNA Community Centre director Vanessa James said: “As soon as people came through the door they started dancing.
“We are celebrating moving, connecting and music because it feels like there is this bubbling need to dance a bit more.”
ETNA office manager Karina Moses revealed that 60s and 70s music was the most popular at the first disco and that The Rolling Stones and Sir Cliff Richard were often requested.
“They loved a bit of ABBA,” she added.
The daytime discos feature a small bar serving alcoholic, soft and hot drinks but according to Vanessa, ‘most of the people are too busy dancing’.
The discos have even attracted those who normally do not dance.
Vanessa said: “We had one lady who came along with a friend and said she couldn’t dance, but towards the end we got her dancing.
“It was so lovely because she had just lost her self-confidence, but she had a great time.”
Vanessa continued: “We still see people who perhaps haven’t quite got their lives back from Covid, which seems crazy five years on, but they just haven’t gone and done things.
“There is still that reluctance to participate. It’s nice actually just being able to let people come and enjoy all styles of dancing.”
Your Community Centre Week
The daytime discos are one of many events held in celebration of Your Community Centre Week in Richmond.
Between 22 and 28 September, ten independent centres across the borough will offer various activities to highlight the work they do to enhance community life.
Vanessa said Your Community Centre Week is a great way for different centres to work together.
“We are all different and unique but we all have a similar offering: to bring people together and organise activities for the community,” she said.
“We all come together and collaborate and actually one message is stronger than all of us trying to do our own little thing.”
The daytime discos have been so successful that ETNA Community Centre are considering hosting more aimed at different age ranges, despite their small staff team.
“We think there is a bit of a niche for other types of these events aimed at a wider audience,” Vanessa said.
Featured image credit: Karina Moses
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