Have you ever felt the urge to just burst into dance? After spending months writing my book, The Dance Cure – the surprising secret to being smarter, stronger, happier, I knew I needed to bring its message to life in a vibrant, moving way. I wanted to embody the very essence of dance, and that’s how the idea for the Happy Happy Dance was born.
My book, The Dance Cure, explores the transformative power of dance. It delves into how dancing connects us, reshapes our thinking, and unlocks our emotions. Within its pages, I illustrate how different dance styles can profoundly influence our feelings. If you’re seeking positive change in any aspect of your life, embracing dance might just be the key, the very cure you’ve been searching for.
Inspired by the brilliant American competition Dance your PhD, where academics translate complex research into dance, I decided to give The Dance Cure its own “dance treatment.” Channeling my inner creative spirit, I challenged myself to convert the book’s core message into a joyful dance. The result? The Dr Dance Happy Dance, a celebration of movement and happiness.
Smiling woman in blue top and jeans dancing with arms raised
The vision behind the Dr Dance Happy Dance was simple yet powerful: to demonstrate that dance is for everyone. Regardless of age, background, or physical ability, the happy happy dance is an invitation to move and feel good.
We also wanted to showcase that the spirit of dance knows no boundaries. The Dr Dance Happy Dance aimed to prove that you can dance anywhere and everywhere – your living room, the park, the street, even the beach! The world is your dance floor when you embrace the happy happy dance.
Most importantly, the Dr Dance Happy Dance was created to capture and share the sheer joy that dance ignites within us. It’s about that infectious happiness, that feeling of liberation and pure elation that comes from moving your body to music.
To bring the Dr Dance Happy Dance to life, Dr Dance HQ sprang into action. Lindsey took on the challenge of gathering 70 community dancers and ensuring everything was safe and organized. Digby crafted an original soundtrack, filled with happy, groovy vibes perfect for our happy happy dance. My task was to find a talented film crew and, perhaps more ambitiously, arrange for a sunny day in February in the UK!
Our first step was to contact Annamarie from Longevity – Exercise for Life. Annamarie’s incredible community dance classes, engaging over 200 adults weekly, provided us with the perfect cast of enthusiastic dancers. Next, filmmaker Emma Flett joined the team, bringing in Jon Stapleton, a seasoned Director of Photography from the BBC. With a venue secured, we thought we had everything covered. But with just two days until filming, the wardrobe panic set in! A quick call to my sister, Amanda, saved the day. She brilliantly organized T-shirts in all sizes, ensuring our dancers looked fantastic and unified for the happy happy dance. All that remained was the weather.
February 29th arrived – a rare day indeed – and with it, horizontal rain turning into hail. Emma and Jon drove from London to Cromer, on the north Norfolk coast, battling the elements. The outlook wasn’t promising for our outdoor happy happy dance shoot.
Yet, something magical happens when people dance. Every dance teacher witnesses it – the transformation. As the Dr Dancers began warming up in Cromer Parish Hall, preparing to bring the happy happy dance to life, an incredible shift occurred. The music became clearer, the sound crisper. The rain and hail ceased. The wind calmed, and the sun broke through the clouds.
We seized the moment. We knew this was our chance to capture the happy happy dance in its full glory. As we danced through the streets and onto the beach, I felt The Dance Cure truly come alive in the most enchanting way.
I sincerely hope that when you watch the Dr Dance Happy Dance, you can see the unadulterated joy on the dancers’ faces. Recognize that dance is, without a doubt, for everybody. Join us in celebrating the happy happy dance!
We truly hope you enjoy the Dr Dance Happy Dance.
Peter Lovatt
19th March 2020
