Amy Louise Park and Asher Louise Riley grew up in Coseley and share a passion for dance. In 2016 they wanted to create an opportunity for young people to showcase their passion for dance. Amy and Asher hoped that through regular dance classes and performances they could change how young people spent some of their social time, grow their confidence and have a positive effect on their happiness, health and wellbeing, around weight loss and obesity.
When they came together in June 2016, members of the Big Local Project Investment Team could feel the energy and enthusiasm Amy and Asher had for their idea. They told Big Local that they were really excited about it, they had been waiting for an opportunity and the timing was perfect. They wanted to use the Coseley Community Centre (previously the Youth Centre) for dance classes as it is a great space.
Before approaching Big Local for some funding to start up, Asher and Amy had already gone out to meet young people attending the youth club and found 25 young people interested in joining dance classes. Through the Big Local Project Investment session Amy and Asher heard about the Darkhouse Summer Playscheme and offered to run a dance class with them which would help to promote the newly forming Aace Dance to more children and parents, and help volunteers from Darkhouse to offer a new activity.
Aace Dance launched in summer 2016 with a single Street Dance class on a Wednesday, and has now grown to two venues and nearly 15 classes. They have put on two shows and performed in events such as Black Country Day and other community events. Helen Riley has supported the group from day one attending every session to help out and Casey Broadley and Molly Turner joined in 2017 to teach Zumba and Gymnastics.
Amy and Asher are passionate about Coseley and the surrounding areas. Big Local supported them to make connections, buy equipment, pay room hire costs to get dance classes started in 2016 and exercise classes in 2017 and to put on a Christmas show. In total Big Local has invested £1,100 through 3 small grants in this self-sustaining, growing enterprise. Just one demonstration of how a little bit of support and encouragement from Big Local helps local people with ideas and energy to make Coseley a more vibrant place to live, impacting positively on the lives of hundreds of local people.
Aace Dance always welcome new starters in both adult classes and children’s, their Facebook Page is open for the public to contact them either via Facebook messenger email or phone. You can keep up to date with their achievements and find out about all sorts of exiting things happening in 2018 such as dance festivals, summer performances, dance camps, inspire weeks and a third big showcase. If you would like to get involved please don’t hesitate to contact Amy and Asher
