Bus drivers across Dublin city are learning to dance in an innovative project to increase physical fitness levels among this particularly sedentary group of workers.
Dance company CoisCéim has teamed up with Ann Farrell, the health promotion officer with CIÉ, to give Dublin Bus drivers and inspectors a chance to shake a leg in weekly workshops which will culminate in a public performance on Sunday.
Bus driver Eric Maitland (34) explained why he joined the dance classes: "I'm sitting for eight-12 hours a day. I was 16 stone when I became a bus driver four years ago and my weight increased to 17 and a half stone. I'm quite fit because I play football in the garage twice a week but I eat a lot of food. Since I started the dance classes, I've lost one and a quarter stone and learned to eat healthier snacks."
The dance workshops are part of a wider health and fitness programme, called Gut Busters, which started in September. The programme includes Weight Watchers classes in the various bus garages, walking and gym challenges.
Dr Clodagh Cashman from the CIÉ medical department said: "The health promotion message is a hard sell. Nobody wants to be told they are overweight but we're getting feedback from participants that they feel younger, more energetic and they are bringing this positive message home."
Gut Busters checks weight, lung function, blood pressure and cholesterol levels before and after the programme.
The dance element includes weekly dance workshops which about 35 Dublin Bus staff attend - two-thirds of whom are male.
What do the other bus drivers think of their dancing colleagues? "We get slagged off for dancing. But with 250 lads in each garage, you'll get slagged off for whatever you do. It's a very male world. I'd love to keep up the dance classes once a week after the show and go back to playing football once a week. Dancing offers me a whole new approach to fitness and it's great fun too," said Mr Maitland.
The sociable aspect of the classes is another factor which has given bus drivers a chance to meet colleagues from other parts of the city. Beití Mhic Mhathúna is a bus driver working from the Clontarf garage: "I was fit once and I find that the dance classes have given me great strength back into my arms. It makes you feel better about going to work, knowing that you've a dance class afterwards."
Philippa Donnellan, community dance director with CoisCéim, said she was very impressed with the enthusiasm of the bus drivers who come for a two-hour long workshop after a full day's work. "There has been a very low drop-out rate. They have enjoyed the dancing so much, they aren't thinking about how much it is keeping them fit."
Dublin Bus drivers will give a public performance with dancer Lisa McLoughlin as part of a charity dance night in the Garda Club, Harrington Street, Dublin on Sunday, November 19th at 8pm. Tickets €5. Tel: 01 7031351.
