On Sunday 5th June the nation saw Stockport Grammar School's very own Miss Withington dance her way through the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Pageant's '80s aerobic session' alongside The Daily Dance community and Ailsa McPhee - founder and creator of the community.

You can watch the BBC footage here.

Photograph: Miss Withington, Ailsa McPhee and The Daily Dance Community

Miss Withington became involved in The Daily Dance as she had been working closely with Ailsa on her wellbeing.  During the lockdown she found herself on a downward spiral, then Ailsa popped up on her social media feed.  Miss Withington contacted Ailsa to thank her for what she was doing and to say how important it was in those dark times.  Sensing the need for support Ailsa reached out to Miss Withington and offered her well-being advice.  From there, Ailsa invited Miss Withington to be part of the Pageant Parade.

Miss Withington says;

What you see on the outside often masks the actual feelings you have.  Ailsa popped into my life at the perfect time and sorted the turn around and for that I will always be grateful.  Being part of her 80s Aerobic crew was my way of part paying her back, but Ailsa - I owe you big, I owe you huge.

Ailsa tells us:

Sharon has gone through the terror barrier to join me in the televised, hour long 80’s dance routine through the streets of London, dancing for Queen and country.

Dancing is a true expression of who we are, who we want to be, and I salute Sharon and all the dancers who do not identify as ‘dancers’ but who are driven by a sense of adventure and terror to remind the UK- WE ARE ALL DANCERS. Celebration, joy, fun is not reserved for weekends, you can activate it on a Monday morning if you play the right music and shake your body.

During the show, Miss Withington was spotted by pupils, former pupils and many of her colleagues who were proud to see her take the leap and get involved, live on national television.

About the Pageant

The Platinum Jubilee Pageant was held on Sunday, 5 June 2022 near Buckingham Palace, as part of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. It featured over 10,000 people from across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth and combined street arts, music, puppets, carnival and costume to celebrate the Queen's reign, as well as honouring the collective service of people and communities across the United Kingdom.

About Ailsa McPhee & The Daily Dance

Ailsa McPhee is the fabulous Stockport based dance activist and creator of The Daily Dance.

Dubbed on TV and around the world as ‘The Dancing Banksy’ Ailsa’s one woman, pop up Daily Dance is having a radical impact on the happiness of our communities and society.

Ailsa has been broadcast doing the YMCA on building sites, VOGUEING in the shops, GREEK dancing down the street and doing the MERENGUE outside hospitals dressed in medical scrubs. Ailsa has captivated the hearts and imagination of thousands of followers who seek their daily source of joy by watching The Daily Dance on screens all around the world.

Ailsa says;

My mission is to bring JOY to thousands. To create change; People need inspiration. This is what I do with The Daily Dance.   I go to places where people are miserable, often in rush hour- in my sequinned leotard, I ACTIVATE their HAPPINESS in one song, and then I’m gone. When you are happy you make better decisions, you get better results. I teach people that happiness is IN you, but you have to activate it.

Music reconnects you with your inner power. We are hard wired to worry, and to be afraid; I break through this and insert celebration every morning to reprogram for success”

I am led by my vision and a desire for radical positive change to make Britain happy.

After leaving home - a single mum, in first lockdown, Ailsa started live streaming The Daily Dance to help herself and others get happy using just one song every morning. Ailsa’s Daily Dance helped her transform from ‘powerless to POWERHOUSE’.

Ailsa’s inspired, rebellious daily Dance is making big waves in the wellbeing industry, gaining nominations and awards from the NHS, Northern Power Women and She Inspires Awards.

Expect some very special performances from Ailsa, spreading more of her Daily Dance JOY or be part of Ailsa’s DANCE REVOLUTION.

You can join the free group The Daily Dance Community on Facebook here. 

You can join Ailsa's Dance Revolution here.