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Barn Dance Fitness Birmingham UK

A chance to try something new, absolutely no experience required, suit all ages, dress as you wish, no partner required. Develop core strength, agility & coordination.

Aim is to get fit whilst having fun: nothing too frantic, extreme or high impact, just pure dance-based frivolity!

What we do

Learn traditional dances from across the world. They are easy to do and a fun way to get fit without knowing it.

A 60 min fitness class centred around social dancing, very aerobic, but is gentle on the body.

Health Benefits

Some of the benefits of the BDF exercise class:

✓ ‘Grey cell’ workout
✓ Main muscle groups workout
✓ Aerobic exercise
✓ Social intercourse
✓ Increased fitness
✓ Improved mobility, co-ordination & balance
✓ It will make you laugh most heartily!

A big welcome from our Stirchley Over 50’s class

Barn dance fitness is a fun way to keep fit. It’s a way of exercising both body and mind and provides an opportunity to socialise in a friendly group where everyone is made to feel welcome.

Thanks for making it possible to join in the new life, energy and transformational dance classes. Excellent form of relaxation as well as the opportunity to meet lovely people. Amazing!

Prepare for your first class

Come on your own, or with others. Before attending for the first time, please ensure you complete the online health questionnaire.

Please attend at least 10 mins before the class to complete the registration and to chat to others. Remember to bring water and possibly a small towel. Dress so that you can peel layers off as you warm up. Flat shoes recommended.

Classes now running in

Stirchley – Hall Green – Moseley – Warstock

Contact us for a free taster class...

Organising your own event?

If you’re considering having a ceilidh or barn dance, our team at The Burdock Band can supply you with a caller or full band.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's it all about?

We don’t take ourselves seriously, and yes,
we occasionally make fools of ourselves. It’s about having fun together getting fit as a social activity in normal sensible clothing and footwear.  It’s about ‘us’ which is why it differs from other fitness classes – there are no mirrors!  What we do is a great leveller, there’s no status, and we need each other to make it work.

Of course, we want to stay fit and live longer, and there’s plenty of published evidence that regular moderate dancing supports that aim. Furthermore, it’s an all body and mind workout: you probably won’t even be conscious of how much stretching, balancing,  stepping, and mental concentration, just happens.

What should I wear?

Comfortable clothes that you can peel the layers off as you warm up.

Do I need a partner?

No, you don’t need to bring anybody, but the more the merrier!

How much does a class cost?

At present, a 60 minute class costs £5.50, or buy a class pass for 5 classes, which works out at £5 per class.

How do I book a class?

Click on a BOOK NOW button, select a class time and venue to suit you, select the number of tickets that you require, and then proceed to the shopping trolley selections.

Note that each class has to be booked through the bdf website, irrespective of when and how you pay.

What is the loyalty pass?

For certain classes, you can buy  5 tickets for £25 (sometimes called a pass). You only have to book 1 class to purchase a pass; you can then use the pass to pay for classes as and when you book.

Book a single class as normal, then  click on the ‘Available with pass‘ link:

Alternatively, select the passes tab:

Once you’ve selected a class and a pass, then View Selections (or click on the basket in top right corner). You will find that your pass has been used to pay for your first class:

Do I have to pay online?

Please always book your classes through the online booking system. You then have the choice of paying by:

  • debit card
  • bank transfer
  • contactless

It’s preferable that you pay while booking online, as class time for admin is limited. However, if you have any difficulty, bring a debit card to the class and pay contactless on our card reader.

How do I know the booking has gone through?

You will receive an email confirming the booking. If you haven’t, then please use the contact form to let us know and we’ll check for you.

Quick link for future class booking?

We suggest that you bookmark this link on your device’s home page for future quick access to our class booking system:

https://bookwhen.com/barndancefitness

What about health worries?

Many of our dancers have health challenges, but the one thing that they seem to have in common is that their doctor has told them to ‘get more exercise!’. You will find that you can do the dances at your own pace; each step sequence or move will have a low impact, or low swing, alternative.

How is the hour structured?

There are 6 to 7 dances per 1 hour session.
The first dance is a warm up often done in a
line facing the instructor, similar to other
dance classes. This is followed by different
formations of group dances, some more
energetic than others, ending with a gentle
dance to cool down.

Why will I enjoy it?

There’s no pressure to be beautiful and
perfect. Our aim is to have fun – we just
happen to get fit in the process. Remember,
you can do it at your own pace.

What if I can't do it?

The class is for beginners who join at any time in the year. If you can work out your left from your right – that’s the toughest challenge – then you’ll be brilliant. Please accept that there is a lot to take in and it’s natural to feel awkward for the first few sessions. It may take 6 months or longer to really feel the benefits.

Will I be embarrassed?

We understand that it can be very embarrassing to get something wrong, but it doesn’t matter to us. No one will judge you, and sometimes we adapt your original moves and put them into the dance, so we’re all learning together. The dancing has its own vocabulary of steps and styles so it will take a few sessions to feel comfortable.

In each class, there will be a new dance, so even regular attendees will find it as challenging as yourself.

Who is our instructor?

Dan Longley is a qualified ETM fitness instructor and first aider. He is the resident caller for The Burdock Ceilidh Band, and also works with other bands across the Midlands. He will walk you through the dance and ensure that you understand the moves before commencing. You don’t need to remember all the figures as he’ll call them out during the dance.

Who attends BDF classes?

Anyone 7yrs or over! Our classes tend to attract 50+ yr olds, but sometimes we have 3 generations in the same class – it is truly inclusive.

How do I check how many passes I have left?

Read this article about how a booker (you) can manage your own bookings.

Do you have a safeguarding policy?
Yes, we take safeguarding very seriously, and you will find our policy & procedures here:

BDF Safeguarding policy & procedures

As a member of EMD UK, the national governing body for group exercise, we are signed up to their safeguarding policy:

EMD-UK Safeguarding Adults Policy