Members of Midlife Movers dance classes in Thanet and Sandwich joined those from sessions across east Kent to take to the stage for Britain’s Got Talent.
And the 135-strong group gained four yes’s after flooding the theatre with a sea of dancers from the classes, aimed at those aged 40 and above, and performing an energetic set to Relight My Fire.
The Midlife Movers was set up in 2022 by Debs Forsyth who then had to resigned from her job to run it full time.
The sessions started in Sandwich but demand exploded – resulting in classes opening in Thanet, Deal, Dover, Folkestone and Canterbury.
Last year the classes held a flashmob in Canterbury and the video posted to social media accounts gained the thumbs up from people including Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden.
Mum-of-five and nan of seven, Debs, from Sandwich, said she feels extremely lucky to have had the chance, with all her Movers, to not only perform at the London Palladium but to have had the audition screened on TV.
She said: “I entered us because I wanted everyone to be brave and throw themselves completely out of their comfort zones. It was a real “why not” moment.
“I honestly thought we’d just go for the experience, audition, have a fun day together and that would be it. Never in a million years did I think we’d end up at The Palladium in front of the judges! Apparently everyone who knows me thought it was a given!
“All the groups came together and completely smashed it. Dancing on the stage at such an iconic theatre will be a cherished moment forever. The memories made that day are priceless.
“I should have known that the sheer joy and enthusiasm Midlife Movers gives off – particularly when Movers from all classes combine to do the larger performances together – is always enough to give pure joy and propel us wherever we need to go.
“One of my lovely glamorous elders, who is 85, said to me “thank you for making me feel so special at my time of life “ And there you have it – the spirit of Midlife Movers.”
After the performance judge Bruno Tonioli said “It felt like the biggest party in town,” and then the Midlife Movers gained a yes from all four judges.
