Strictly's World Champion dancer transports you to 'Gingerland' on 1st UK tour…

AFTER making his Directorial and Choreographic debut at Sadler's Wells, London, in 2019, BBC Strictly Come Dancing professional, Neil Jones, will be touring the UK for the very 1st time in 2021, with his brand new show:- 'Gingerland!' Away from the Strictly dance floor, Neil will demonstrate to you the real reason he has so many Ballroom and Latin Championship titles to his name, 45 in fact, including 3 time World and 8 time British Champion. Originally due to tour in June and July 2020, the production has been rescheduled due to the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic. Jones said of the postponement:- "I'm sorry to announce that Gingerland is being postponed, but I think we can all agree that everyone's health is more important and the show will still go on, just now it is happening March to April 2021. Until then, let's be strong and stay at home."

Join the dancer and well known choreographer as he goes from the back of Claudia's area to starring in his very own dance show like you have never seen before - comedy, special effects and a lot of outstanding dancing! He says of the show:- "Being ginger myself, with this show I wanted to create a kind of tribute to gingers. There will be a lot of dancing, obviously, but I want to combine it with comedy and music. I've also been researching celebrities through the years that were ginger and I'm going to incorporate them into the show. It's going to be a very light hearted, fun show for everyone, whether you are ginger or you know a ginger, everyone will be able to relate to it."

Jones, who has danced with Judy Murray and Anita Rani on the Strictly Christmas specials and regularly appears on It Takes 2; sometimes as his alter ego, Nell de Jaunse; has been part of Strictly Come Dancing since joining in 2016. In 2019, for series 17 of the hit show, Neil was paired with a celebrity for the 1st time on the main show. Partnered with footballer and pundit Alex Scott, they progressed to week 11, coming 5th in the competition. It has recently been announced that Neil will return to the show for series 18 and he is excited to help a new celebrity experience the joy of dance. On the 'Gingerland 2021 Tour.' Neil will take you on a journey showcasing what made him unique within the dancing world and introduce you to the very people who influenced him as a dancer. It just so happens that they were all Ginger!

Neil says of his brand new show:- "Prepare yourself… You are in for a night you will never want to forget!!"

The 'Gingerland 2021 Tour' opens on the 25 February 2021, at The Albany Theatre, Coventry and the tour will have the closing night on the 11 April 2020, at Churchill Theatre, Bromley. The Merseyside show will take place on 11 March 2021, at The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport.  To find out the nearest stop to you and also to booked tickets, go to:- NeilJonesTour.com. A limited number of VIP Meet and Greet tickets are also available at each venue.

Walk the Walk to provide emergency grants for frontline cancer services

GRANT making charity Walk the Walk is stepping in with emergency grants, to support frontline cancer charities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The charity's Founder and Chief Executive Nina Barough is so concerned about the effect on the lives of cancer patients during the past 3 months, she felt Walk the Walk really had to do something to try and help. Walk the Walk's own fundraising has been massively affected by the pandemic, with the postponement of its events, including:- The MoonWalk Scotland and The MoonWalk London, where millions of pounds would normally be raised in 1 night. However Walk the Walk's supporters have continued to fundraise through the 2.6 challenge and its own virtual:- "MoonWalk Celebration Road Trip," raising almost ₤100,000.  Nina and the charity are very excited to announce they will be making:- "Emergency Grants" to the value of ₤20,000 each month to frontline cancer charities, until the end of 2020. The grants will only be made to organisations which are involved in delivering services and support directly to cancer patients. Even a few thousand pounds could make a huge difference in keeping services running at this time. The effects of the pandemic have been enormous for those diagnosed with cancer. Cancer surgery has fallen to around 60 % of expected levels and 6,000 fewer cancer patients than expected are receiving chemotherapy. Many people are also being forced to go through treatment on their own. Loneliness is 1 of the key issues for which frontline cancer charities provide support. Local cancer services and helplines are being overwhelmed and many having little or no funding coming in, due to their normal sources of fundraising having stopped. Nina Barough CBE, Walk the Walk's Founder and Chief Executive said:- "After working passionately for the last 23 years to raise money to improve the lives of those living with cancer and for research into breast cancer, it is distressing to see the situation that many cancer patients have found themselves in. I really felt that we should do something no matter what and came up with the idea of providing emergency grants. The main aim of these grants is to give charities funding to get them through the next few months, and hopefully allow them some breathing space, so that they can support those who really need it."