Dancing through life with funky fitness classes

PHILIP Channells had always loved dancing, but it wasn’t until a car accident at age 27 that he began taking classes.

“It was part of my rehabilitation,” he said. “Since then, dance has been my way to connect, express myself and keep my heartthrob status alive.”

The founder of MOVE IT dance fitness classes grew up in Coffs Harbour before moving to Lismore in 1998 to study dance at the Northern Rivers Conservatorium.

His career has taken him across the globe as a dancer, teacher, choreographer and artistic director.

Now based on a property in Diamond Springs, near Rosebank in the Byron hinterland, Channells launched MOVE IT in 2018 to bring people together through dance and promote wellbeing in a fun, social setting. He describes it as a “funky and a little bit fabulous” weekly class that blends elements of post-disco, post-ballet and post-aerobics for people of all ages and abilities.

“The young ones often struggle to keep up with us,” the 55-year-old said. “We blend easy-to-follow routines with uplifting music to get people moving, grooving and grinning.”

The class playlist spans disco, funk, world music, First Nations pop, classic rock and even the occasional musical theatre number.

Weekly sessions are held at Marvell Hall in Byron Bay, Brunswick Heads Memorial Hall, Lennox Head Surf Life Saving Club and the Northern Rivers Conservatorium.

Channells said the group has around 50 dedicated regulars, with numbers swelling during special events like the National Circus Festival, Tropical Fruits, and the Bangalow Billycart Derby.

“When performing publicly, we often wear pink because it’s fun, looks fantastic en masse and everyone feels fabulous,” he said.

“We’ve also popped up at basketball courts, scout halls, community centres and even a funeral – because nothing says ‘celebration of life’ like a shimmy.”

Channells said he loves the unapologetic fun, joy and connection of MOVE IT, and watching people light up, let go and move together. “Some arrive with two left feet and leave with a whole new swagger,” he said. “I take full credit, naturally.”

MOVE IT’s upcoming performances include the Love Lennox Festival on Saturday, June 14, and the Laneways of Lismore Festival on Saturday, August 23 — with everyone encouraged to join in and dance along.