A GROUP of mums who set up their own children’s dance group are celebrating a year of getting youngsters moving to the beat.

Julia Dodds, Georgie Easton and Kim Sibley, all from Maiden Newton, set up the Fizzy Boppers group with Kelly Critchell, from Cattistock, 12 months ago.

The mums wanted to provide somewhere their friends and fellow parents could offer children aged up to five the chance to experience music and sounds.

Julia added: “We also wanted the group to have a social toddler group element to it for parents to meet new friends and their children to mix with new faces and for the group to be pay as you go which parents didn’t have to book or sign up to.”

The idea has proved an outstanding success AS the mums have been asked to open a host of other groups in new locations.

In their first year more than 600 children enjoyed the Fizzy Boppers experience.

After setting up in Maiden Newton, Julia, Georgie, Kim and Kelly were approached by parents from Bridport who wanted a group in their area so sessions were started in Netherbury.

They then started a group up at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester before also being approached by the local branch of Sure Start about opening up in Crossways.

Fizzy Boppers sessions are held every Thursday in Crossways and the mums thanked Sure Start for all the support it had provided.

They also run an after school club for Greenford School key stage one children, with around 15 children attending every week, as well as running birthday parties.

The sessions are split between 20 minutes of action songs using creative props and then a further 20 minutes of themed dances.

Over the last 12 months children have experience salsa, country and western, music from the 60s, global music and most recently 70s music.

Julia said: “We have recently been extremely fortunate to be awarded a grant from Comic Relief to assist us with our hall rentals and to help us continue providing fun and imaginative props. Since the group opened last year we have had a total of 452 families attend the groups, that is a staggering 641 children.

“We want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their help.”

For more information visit fizzyboppers.co.uk