Over60s

HMDT continues to be a creative force in the community, ensuring that musical and cultural diversity flourish both in Hackney and beyond. Its unique initiatives offer opportunities to a broad range of people of all ages who want to develop their potential, try something new, meet people, keep healthy or simply have fun. The Over 60s Programme has been running for over 10 years and consists of 3 strands:

The Hoxton Singers

Healthy Hearts

Gotta’ Dance

 

The Hoxton Singers

Even if you have never sung before, The Hoxton Singers are proof that it is never too late to get up and start!

Following their appearance in The Palace in the Sky, an HMDT/ENO Baylis Community Opera at Hackney Empire in 2000, members of the group appeared in HMDT’s award winning production of On London Fields at Hackney Empire in 2004, and in November 2006, they returned to perform in I’ll Be Seeing You, HMDT’s tribute to the battle for The Home Front.

In 2006, The Hoxton Singers recorded a CD, You Make Me Feel So Young, with Young Jazz Hackney, performed as part of the Capital Age Festival in London’s City Hall in February 2007 and premiered The Hoxton Songbook; a song cycle written for them by Alastair Middleton and Matthew King, the same year. In 2008 they were filmed by the BBC as part of the Power to the People documentary strand which led to selected members of the group joining The Zimmers and recording My Generation at Abbey Road Studios which hit the charts. Regular appearances include Shoreditch Festival, The Geffrye Museum, Sutton House, Salvation Army, Southbank, Capital Age Festival and in 2010 the Tricycle Theatre’s Festival Not Acting My Age.

Their most recent new commission, The Toy Box by Helen Eastman and Russell Hepplewaite is an intergenerational piece comparing childhood and children’s toys from The Hoxton’s childhood with that of today. Created through workshops and visits to The Museum of Childhood, it was premiered by The Hoxton Singers with children from St Monica’s Primary School in 2011 and has since been performed by the choir working with Colvestone School and Jubilee School.

I learnt what games old people used to play and why toys are special to people. Singing with the Hoxtons was the best! – Student

. . . thank you for the wonderful experience you provided for our children . . . the cross generation meetings between The Hoxton singers and our children was really a joy to experience. – Violet Richardson, Headteacher, St. Monica’s Catholic Primary School

 Join the Hoxton Singers

Sessions are held on:
Fridays 1.30 – 3.30pm
The Salvation Army
70 Mare Street
London E8 4RT
For more information call 020 8882 8825
Term Date

 

Healthy Hearts

Healthy Hearts run by Joan Thomas is a fun, sociable, healthy and mentally stimulating line dancing class. Its aim, as well as improving stamina which promotes healthy heart function, is to acquire dance technique, learned at individuals’ own pace, which creates flexibility of movement in everyday life. The added focus of learning dance routines, assists with maintaining good memory skills ensuring the sessions offer every participant a general feeling of well-being.

Sessions

Classes take place on:

Mondays at

Venue

For more information call HMDT Music on 020 8882 8825

 

GOTTA’ DANCE

Are you over 60? Are you a seasoned ballroom dancer? Have you been bitten by the Strictly Come Dancing bug, or do you simply want to have fun trying something new?

Gotta’ Dance led by Malcolm Hill is a ballroom dancing class which caters for beginners and seasoned dancers offering a range of styles. Experienced dancers can also gain their X certificates.

Sessions

Gotta Dance is held on Mondays:

1.30pm Beginners

2.30pm Intermediates

 

Kidzmania

28 Powell Street

London E5 8DJ

For more info call: 020 8882 8825