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In 1982, dance and fitness instructor Fiona Winter taught her first class at Caerphilly Leisure Centre – and is still going strong four decades later.

Now aged 64, Fiona is still teaching dance in the community and has no plans to slow down.

Speaking to Caerphilly Observer, Fiona said: “My main aim is to bring the joy of movement to everybody. We’re not dancing for how it looks, but for how it feels.”

Originally from Southport in the north west of England, Fiona moved to Cardiff aged 18 to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Fiona met her husband while in Cardiff and in 1980 moved to Caerphilly, where she has been ever since.

She started teaching during the ‘Fonda Fitness Boom’ of the early 1980s and was regularly teaching classes of up to 100 people at the time.

In 1986, Fiona opened her own dance hall on Llanbradach High Street – Ffisical – which was open until 1991. Here, she focused on teaching smaller groups.

Following on from this, Fiona started teaching dance and fitness across the south Wales valleys, mainly working with older people, people with learning difficulties and those with dementia, as well as carers.

During her career, Fiona has worked alongside a variety of organisations for a range of projects, such as with Caerphilly County Borough Council for numerous health and arts schemes, as well as Fitness Wales, the British Heart Foundation and more.

“I’ve always taught in the community,” said Fiona. “When I danced as a child, I always wanted to do it professionally. I’ve done professional shows but when I first started teaching adults, I thought it was the best thing ever.

“When someone tells me they have two left feet, I see it as a challenge.

“I want people to experience the joy I get when I dance.”

She continued: “You’re never too old to try something. Dance has massive health benefits and huge benefits for mobility.”

To mark 40 years of Fiona’s teaching, Caerphilly Council’s Arts Development team arranged a celebration at Shappelles dance studio in Ystrad Mynach on June 17.

Around 40 of Fiona’s pupils past and present attended the event, including Janis Rosser.

Janis, from Bargoed is Fiona’s longest-serving pupil, having attended classes regularly since the 1980s.

Janis said: “I started going not long after Fiona opened her club in Llanbradach. I only went to try it out and ended up staying.

“It helps you escape somehow. The dancing makes you happy – it’s a form of escapism. A lot of the others have been coming to Fiona’s classes for years and years.”

While Covid restrictions were in place, Fiona began teaching classes through Zoom – something she is still doing three times a week.

“The Zoom classes during lockdown saved my sanity,” added Janis.

Shened Hodges, who has been going to Fiona’s classes for around ten years, said they were a big help for those struggling with mental health issues. She said: “You could almost say it’s magic.

“Fiona helps you feel confident in yourself and connect with yourself.

“I had a knee replacement a few years ago and was nervous about coming back to dance – I was afraid I’d hurt myself. But Fiona supported me and I slotted back in at my own pace.”

Shened continued: “Fiona should be available on prescription. She just brings you out of yourself – she’s wonderful.”

Beth Ryland, who works for Caerphilly Council’s Arts Development team, also heaped praise on Fiona and said: “She’s done so much community work off her own back. What she’s done for the community is amazing.

“She’s so professional and really cares about her students. Her passion and love for dance and what it can do for a person’s wellbeing really shines through.”

Speaking about her plans for the future, Fiona said she wants to take dance into the workplace to help people with work-related stress.