Dance

Everyone, whatever shape, size, age, mobility or confidence level, can appreciate movement as a means of communicating ideas. You do not have to be a dancer yourself to put over its wonder and value to children. Prior to my retirement, my sessions aimed to show teachers how to introduce dance to children as a language. Working at their own level, we explored ways of telling a story, expressing feelings, and responding to music through dance.

Sessions offered a blend of practical ideas, planning, resources, choosing music, innovative methods of warming up and cooling down. Recordings of children aged 4-11 working on dance projects were used to demonstrate ideas. 

 I offered staff Inset or dance days with children, working from a variety of starting points. Examples have included famous paintings, famous stories, colours, countries, materials and the Olympics.

 ‘We have had the opportunity today to perform our dance....They were so clear about what they had to do, were an absolute delight to watch and their concentration was amazing!’
                                                                                                                                                          Primary teacher, Huntingdon.
For my books and work packs covering Dance see Publications.

Examples
Dubai – using dance in the KS1 and 2 curriculum
Norfolk – dance course for trainee teachers
Yorks – day for teachers of visually impaired
Cambs – annual Dance Festival involving whole school and leading to performance for parents