'Can't touch this': Hartlepool performing arts students create coronavirus health message video to MC Hammer tune

Students of Miss Toni’s Academy of Performing Arts and Music certainly haven’t been bored during the pandemic lockdown.

They spent their time creating a short video to the tune ‘U Can’t Touch This’ by MC Hammer.

Academy owner Toni Parker-Harvey said: “We have been setting our students different challenges throughout the lockdown. We have done singing challenges, dance and drama too.

“Just to keep the children busy and their mind off what’s happening in the outside world, we did a song about washing hands to the tune of Miley Cyrus ‘Party in the USA’ before the lockdown.

“Then our student Maggie Wharton did the ‘U Can’t Touch This’ video and sent it to our group.

“Maggie is known for being a little comedian so this was really her showing her funny personality. We then challenged the other students to make their own.

“It’s all just for fun but it does have a strong message and is a reminder for everyone to keep clean during these hard times.”

Maggie’s mum Lucy Taylor said Maggie, eight, and Bobby, four, have been making videos to send to their family and friends to keep everyone’s spirits up.

And Toni praised the students for ‘putting their performing arts training to good use. They are loving it. The students have had a brilliant time with all of their tasks.”

How have you been keeping entertained during the lockdown? Get in touch and tell us more by emailing [email protected].

It comes after Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the latest data suggested the UK was "starting to win this struggle", three weeks after restrictions were imposed.

But he insisted the virus was not yet past its peak and that it was "far too early" to talk about relaxing the measures, with reports suggesting the lockdown will be extended for at least another three weeks.

Latest figures from NHS England on Tuesday, April 14, show there have been 33 confirmed deaths recorded by North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.

Across the North East’s seven hospital trusts, there have been 567 confirmed coronavirus-related deaths, according to figures released on Tuesday, April 14.

To find out the latest coronavirus updates as well as the latest case numbers, visit the Hartlepool Mail website.

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