Tanzii TV Inspires Pupils to Get Active

Pupils of Laxey and Dhoon primary schools celebrated World Fitness Day with a visit from two heathy lifestyle fanatics.

Tanzii TV, which combines the duo of Ottavio and Dario, promote healthy lifestyles for children through a range of colourful and musical displays and classes.

The duo were brought to the island by Executive Headteacher Max Kelly and his team in what is the latest in a long series of trying new things to engage their schools’ pupils in different ways.

Max explained: ‘It’s World Fitness day! What better way to promote fitness and increase opportunities for getting active than to put PE front and centre for the day and inspire children across the island to get active in the most fun way. Tanzii TV are made up of Ottavio and Dario, two fitness fanatics who are on a mission to get children up and about.

‘I was impressed with their focus on resilience and readiness for learning which links to the 6Rs curriculum in the Isle of Man and having met them I knew they’d be an engaging choice for our schools.’

Through their use of computer animations, bright colours, music and their own high energy, slightly infectious, presenting style, the duo very quickly get the children up and about, learning in a physical way.

For pupils at the school, Max and his leadership team are always willing to try new ways to engage with them.

He said: ‘The more exposure to different techniques, different experiences and different personalities the better. As long as there is quality, and if it links to – or even better, enhances – our usual curriculum offer then it’s surely got to be a winner. In this case, with the Isle of Man’s Active Travel to Schools Week coming up later in the month, a focus on being physical seemed like a great idea.’

And, Max said he would encourage other schools to use guys like Tanzii TV: ‘Ottavio and Dario have seen first hand the benefits of this delivery; they tell me that the physical side is great but is complimented by a virtual offer too so the fun doesn’t have to stop after they’ve been in. The impact is longer lasting. 

‘Tanzii TV are keen to come back to the Isle of Man, and are already thinking of ways to promote Children’s Mental Health Week through exercise and movement as a tool to boost wellbeing. If there are schools out there interested in building this into their curriculum, get in touch.’

Just incase anyone was concerned about any dad dancing, Max confirmed he and all of the staff did join in.

He said: ‘I joined in! Its hard not too when the lights are flashing and the music is bouncing. My staff and I like to be good role models to our pupils – if we’re asking them to think about being more active then we should be active too! As for my dancing – lets just say my floss needs some serious attention.’