Craig Revel Horwood, a judge on the hit television show Strictly Come Dancing, has announced his support of the National Osteoporosis Society in a fight against dancers rejecting correct nutrition in a bid to be slim. Judging a show that is all sequins, feathers and body-stockings, he maintains that it is ultimately important to fuel a dancer’s body and nourish it correctly in order to achieve results and perfect 10s!
Horwood, a dancer turned choreographer is notorious for his scathing remarks on contestants’ performances, but is nonetheless entertaining as the pantomime villain. It is clear that his passion for sparkle, performance and technique feeds his on-air criticism, and a desire to see celebrities take on the challenge of dance.
As a patron of the National Osteoporosis Society, Horwood is developing another legacy for dance in using it as a tool to push children to become more active and in turn reducing their risk of developing the condition of osteoporosis later in life, affecting joints and bones. His support of the charity comes from personal proximity with the dehabilitating condition, as well as his love of dance as a strategy to prevent it,
It is thought that one in two women and one in five men over the age of fifty will develop the condition in their lifetime, which causes brittle bones as just one symptom, and prevention one of the best methods to combat osteoporosis. Dancing and using joints, muscles and bones through other forms of exercise builds up bone density which means that diagnosis of osteoporosis later in life is less likely.
The particular scheme that Horwood is behind is called ‘Boogie For Your Bones’, educating children in the health of their bones and the exercises that can help prevent problems later in life.
For more information on osteoporosis call the National Osteoporosis Society helpline on 0845 450 0230. See Craig’s Boogie For Your Bones dance routine at nos.org.uk