MEL:Mum!
DANCE TEACHER:One, two, three, four. Jump for one, jump for two. Jump for one, jump for two. One, two, three, four. Jump for one, jump for three. Ladies, carry on, please.
MEL'S MUM:Come on, let's get your jacket off.
DANCE TEACHER:And one, two, three, four.
MEL'S MUM:I'm sorry, okay? You've only missed a couple of minutes.
MEL'S MUM:Off you go, then. Just do what the others do. You'll be fine. I'll see you at 7:00.
MEL:I want to go home.
MEL'S MUM:Never mind. No need to get yourself upset about it, anyway. Listen. Nan's moving into her new flat soon, so I need you to help me pack up the house this weekend. Okay? Okay?
MEL:Big Nan or Little Nan?
MEL'S MUM:Little Nan.
MEL'S NAN:Oh, hello. Oh, Sweetheart.
MEL'S MUM:Mum, you haven't done anything.
MEL'S NAN:You'll have to go down into the cellar. I can't get down those steps anymore. Look what I've got for you. Your favourite.
MEL:Thanks, Nan.
MEL'S NAN:Oh, you're a good girl.
MEL'S MUM:Bin?
MEL'S NAN:I want that.
MEL:They do what you do. See? Look at the screen, Nan.
MEL'S NAN:Well, look at that.
MEL'S NAN:Sorry.
MEL:I'll start downstairs.
MEL:Ballroom Dance Champion. Wow.
MEL:Nan, Nan, do you know who this is?
MEL'S NAN:Of course I do. It's me.
MEL'S NAN:I was the under-12 ballroom dance champion. Well, me and Jimmy Rivers were.
MEL:That's so cool.
MEL'S NAN:Yes, it was. Really cool.
MEL'S NAN:Why don't you take lessons?
MEL'S MUM:No. She didn't like the dance class much, did you, Mel? We were gonna see what other classes there were, weren't we? Maybe something a bit less… Perhaps something that we could try at home.
MEL'S NAN:I was that nervous when I started, I couldn't put one foot in front of the other. My mother said she was throwing good money down the drain. But I wanted to dance that much that I practiced, and practiced, and practiced, until I was the best. Then I wanted everyone to look at me.
MEL:Nan? Will you teach me?
MEL:Finished. Can we go now?
MEL'S NAN:Point your toes.
MEL'S MUM:Mel? Do you want to go to your cousins' for your tea?
MEL'S NAN:Two, three, four, flick, two, three, four, flick, two, three, four, flick, two… Can I show you?
MEL'S NAN:Still got it.
MEL'S MUM:Time to go, Mum.
MEL'S MUM:Well, let me help you.
MEL'S NAN:No.
MEL'S MUM:Well, this is lovely.
MEL'S NAN:It's tiny.
MEL'S MUM:You're downsizing, that's all. It's plenty big enough. You've got a lovely view of the park, Mum.
MEL'S NAN:Noise, that's what that is.
MEL:Come on, Nan, let's practice those turns.
MEL'S NAN:Not enough room to dance in here, pet.
MEL'S MUM:Come on, Mum. Let's get you dressed. Maybe a cup of tea, then.
MEL'S NAN:You're a good dancer. You should give proper lessons another go.
MEL:I'm not sure.
MEL'S NAN:They were mine. Just need a bit of polish.
MEL:Thanks, Nan.
MEL'S NAN:Don't ever give up.
MEL:What about you?
DANCE TEACHER:Ready? And slide. Slide. Forwards. Back, and slide.
MEL'S MUM:We can go, if you like.
DANCE TEACHER:Slide. And stretch, and down. And slide. Slide. Forwards. Back. And slide. Slide. Forwards. Back. Up and down.
MEL'S NAN:Go on. Show them what we're made of.
GIRL 1:Wow. Nice shoes.
MEL:Thanks. My Nan gave them to me.
DANCE TEACHER:Okay, ladies, are we ready? One, two, three, four.
Video summary
A young girl named Mel finds her grandmother's dancing trophy.
She asks grandma about her experience as a dancer and grandma explains how she had worked hard to be successful.
Mel's mother is reluctant to let her take dance lessons due to her lack of confidence and so Mel asks grandma to teach her.
This clip is from the series Life Stories.
Teacher Notes
After viewing the clip, pupils could discuss how we change as we get older, recognise how we can't all do the same things, and celebrate differences.
This could be used as an introduction to a topic on goals. Pupils could consider how to achieve goals and share goals or life ambitions with each other.
It could also be used to stimulate discussions on how families support each other to achieve.
Pupils could hot-seat the characters and ask each other questions during role-play, and freeze-frame scenes to reflect on why people may say and react in the way that they do.
It can also be used to encourage empathy towards elderly people, recognising the difficulties people sometimes encounter as they get older.
This clip is relevant for teaching Modern Studies and PSHE at Key Stage 2 in England and Northern Ireland, PSE at Key Stage 2 in Wales and Second Level in Scotland.
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