The Dance Festival
Often the term Legacy is used out of context . The West Wiltshire Schools Dance Festival definitely is a Legacy event. Held annually in February the Dance Festival was established in 2006 ,by the then School Sports Partnership Manager Chris Bell .
The original 1 day event was held in the Wiltshire Music centre Bradford on Avon . Chris Bell decided upon the event being a festival rather than a competition as he recognised there was a need for a inclusive and non competitive event to engage children and schools that were perhaps not entering the other more traditional partnership events of cricket and rugby .
The first event was so successful that the following year was immediately made into a 2 day event . Annette Wilsher was the then partnership Dance Specialist and brought to it an extra level of performance and creativity .
How has it evolved?
In 2011, the structure of the Schools sports partnership changed. Chris Bell retired and Emily Reynolds took the helm , a daunting time for all involved as funding had changed ,Emilys passion & commitment for the festival meant that it continued , and evolved towards its next step . We are delighted that Emily still finds time to attend the Dance Festival as she is also an integral part of its history.
The Move
Caroline DanceLady and Selwyn Widger have now been joined by the valuable support from Wiltshire Active Sport WASP.
Schools preforming can have the opportunity to take part in the opening ceremony of Wiltshire Schools Games held in Marlborough organised by WASP. Again this event provides another fabulous performance platform for our dancers.
We are delighted to have Apple a Day on going support and enthusiasm.
As part of our commitment to ensure the Dance Festival is a legacy event we have organised the first of many bolt on Dance events to be held during the year.
We now have 3 seperate Dance Legacy programmes that the schools can access and encourage the targeted pupils to attend.
Boys dance . Led by the inspiring all male Dance Companies from Matravers School Westbury . This opportunity is unmissable for younger boys to learn and experience . The older dancers teach the younger dancers the methods of safely leaping , rolling .jumps, lifts and stunts .
Gifted and Talented with Swindon dance Youth opportunity programme. This workshop is led by the swindon dance youth development programme . It encourages the younger talented dancers to consider further Dance education opportunities.
SEND Dance Workshop . Led by Caroline DanceLady and Katie Chappell .Katie and Caroline have built up substantial years of experience within dance and movement therapy with special education needs children and children with disability This workshops allows the children to experience movement and dance via props ,toys and specilaist equipment .
All of the above workshops are bookable via https://wwsgo.co.uk/events/
How the Dance Festival works .
Your school/Dance group , or club , only has to attend 1 of the dates for the daytime rehearsal and evening performanceLate December/January your school Dance group/class will receive is dress rehearsal time slot . The evening running order of performances will be available on the day you are attending
During the day your school will attend a rehearsal at the Forum in Bath, during this time slot the children will be able to use the stage , to gain an understanding of the surroundings , floor space and atmosphere . You can attend this rehearsal with props and costumes . You can leave any costumes/props within your schools designated changing area at the Forum .
The later timed rehearsal slots will mean there is no point returning home/school . In the past some schools have gone for tea together , or parents have met children . As well as taken advantage of a trip around Bath . These are only suggestions for you to plan your day/evening
During the evening children , staff, TAs & helpers sit upstairs in the balcony . Again your school will have a designated seated area . When it is your turn to preform a “runner ” will fetch you from your seated area and chaperon you to the stage door . Please keep all children together as its so much easier for the runners. The children will be able to watch the entire performance form the upper balcony , which many find an experience in itself . Its advisable that children have a drink and snack available. The upstairs changing rooms/viewing is only for staff, helpers & children ,STRICTLY NO PARENTS unless helpers
The evening performance is filmed which is then made available as a DVD for parents/teachers to purchase . therefore we have to have a strict No personal filming policy in place .This then safeguards us against any public performance rights issues .
Please be sure that any children attending the festival have school policy signed permission allowing them to be filmed during the evening performance .
Top tips for the festival
1. Use the stage space, the stage is large , often school halls are smaller so prepare the children that the preforming space will be much bigger.
2. Dynamic movements . Don’t forget there is a upper balcony looking down on to the stage so large dynamic dance moves will be seen better .
3 Costumes , face paints , props all add to the evening and experience ! . HOWEVER props carry a risk of breaking , falling over etc, so be-aware of your choice! .
4. Need inspiration ? look back at past Dance Festival dvds contact me caroline@thedanclady.com if you need to borrow some I always use Youtube for free inspiration and idea development
Testimonials .
I am a parent of one of the children that took part in the dance festival tonight. I saw your letter with your email address on, and wanted to say thank you for your hard work organising it. It was fantastic and I am so glad our kids have a chance to be a part of it. You spoke really well at the end, and the whole event left me with a great impression of Kingdown!
Just a quick e-mail to say thanks so much for a fantastic dance festival on Wednesday night. My son took part as a pupil from Horningsham primary, and the school I teach at;Sutton veny, took part on Tuesday night. The whole event was slick, well-organised and a massive accolade for you personally and the name of Kingdown. My son and I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was great to see the range of dancing produced by schools in West wiltshire.
Thankyou for giving so many different pupils the chance to shine, and as a parent and teacher, thankyou for the clear information and great organisation on the night itself.
It was my first dance festival – and it was absolutely brilliant – I was gobsmacked!Thankyou so, so much for organising it.
