The nationwide initiative, spearheaded by Angela Rippon, raises awareness of the benefits of dance for physical and mental health and encourages those who do not usually dance to give it a go.
Nine taster sessions were on offer across the day at Les Beaucamps School on Sunday, from morris dancing to ballroom and from bhangra to street dance.
‘Today is all about showing people that dance is an amazing way to be both physically and mentally fit, and also it’s fantastic fun,’ said Nicky Will from the Guernsey Sports Commission, which was organising the day alongside Guernsey Arts.
‘Age is no barrier, ability is no barrier. Everybody can dance, from children to grannies.’
This was the second time the event has been held in Guernsey, but after the success of last year, organisers had stepped up what was on offer.
‘It’s amazing all the dance groups that have offered to come along and share their dance styles and give everybody a chance to have a go,’ she said.
‘We really have a really broad spectrum of dance styles on offer and Guernsey is really lucky that there are so many different dance classes that you can attend.
‘Something new for me is the Indian dance, and I’m aiming to learn a bit of Bhangra myself.
‘I just think dance is a fabulous way to keep fit.’
The curtain was raised with a display of Kathak dancing from Northern India, and a song dedicated to Spring, which the organisers had hoped might lift the thick fog outside.
That was followed by some ballroom, which Sarah Day sat out after giving Kathak a try.
‘I wanted to try the Indian dancing in particular,’ she said.
‘Dance is such a good form of exercise – I love a bit of a shimmy around the place. I don’t attend an official dance class at the moment but maybe I’ll find something new today and get find my special dancing shoes out again one day soon.’
