IT’S time to get on the dance mats and groove to a healthy rhythm.

Community leaders in Weymouth’s Park District are appealing for people to join them for free group sessions this summer – starting tomorrow.

They’ve secured funding to run dance mat days for people of all ages from across the town, led by instructor Grace Markwell, a street dance choreographer.

A dance mat is an electronic game controller linked to a monitor.

The player moves their feet to music as instructed by prompts on the screen.

Dance mats, or pads, first appeared as arcade games but have become popular with home use and in schools.

They’re a fun way to keep fit and appeal to people who don’t tend to like exercise.

The Waterside Weymouth Community Forum, which co-ordinates projects in the town centre area, has been trying to secure funding for a project for the past two years.

Forum chairman Ken Whatley said the group was delighted with £19,000 from the Weymouth and Portland Partnership and Dorset County Council to pay for a computer/stereo, projector and 12 mats.

Mr Whatley said: “There are different levels on the mats and there’s no pressure to keep up with others – you can go as slow or fast as you like.

“The mats have proved to be really popular at the taster sessions we’ve run. Our most eager participant is a woman in her 70s who has taken to the mats like a duck to water.

“The great thing about these sessions are that they’re free and open to all.”

Sessions will be run at the Park Community Centre in Chelmsford Street.

Mornings are reserved for mums and toddlers, with a crèche available, and the afternoon is for over 18s at which no children will be allowed.

It is hoped to run sessions over the holidays for school-age children as well as evening groups for working people.

The mats will be made available to community groups and schools.

The sessions begin tomorrow at 10am (mums and toddlers) and at 2pm (adults only) and will also run on Friday, July 23 and Friday, July 30.

Refreshments will also be available.

For more information contact the community centre on 01305 839579.