Teach Primary Issue 19.5

teachwire.net/primary 59 H ello, I am Charlotte. I am a choreographer and film maker who uses movement as a mechanism to connect people and evoke perspectives on life.’ So says the homepage on the website of one of my past pupils. When I knew Charlotte, she was a seven-year-old whose dance talent attracted the attention of the local press; I still have my signed copy of the centre-page spread about her! Charlotte is now ‘a British choreographer, dancer and filmmaker… who broke ground early in her career when she became the Royal Ballet’s Inaugural Young Choreographer’. Charlotte reached the dizzying heights that many can only dream of; but it is those dreams that really matter, and they start in primary school. I currently tutor a GCSE student who is shy at school but becomes a born leader when she helps teach younger children at the local dance school at weekends. She recommends encouraging all pupils to have a go; to experiment with movement, without judgement about what is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. Furthermore, she has noticed that building ‘boys only’ classes into the schedule is a great way to boost the participation and confidence of boys at primary age. She feels dance is often still seen as ‘for girls’ – so separate lessons can help boys to feel that it is also a ‘boy thing’, while developing some skills before they brave mixed classes. Similarly, dance in primary school PE is a unique chance to help children to break down their inhibitions and be valued for their individualism. Of course, some will be more conventionally talented, naturally elegant and athletic than others, but the whole point is to get children up and dancing as soon as possible and just enjoying moving to music. The physical, social, mental and emotional wellbeing gains through dance will have a positive knock-on effect on every aspect of their school lives. Lifetime gains What is more, in the primary environment, you don’t have to restrict dance to formal lessons. You are surrounded by little people who are designed to move constantly – who need to move constantly – as so much of their development and learning comes through movement. So… grab this opportunity to get your primary pupils: · skipping and Polka-ing round the playground when they arrive at school · dancing with their arms in registration and taking turns to lead · learning some synchronised line-dancing moves as a class in form time to practise in break · listening to music from ‘Swan Lake’ (from Russia, Poland, Italy, and Germany), ‘Bharatanatyam’ (India), and ‘Bata’ (Nigeria) in assembly · following up with creative writing about stories the music evokes · singing, clapping and swaying to learn their times tables · having dance video lessons from different cultures on in the hall at lunch break as an optional activity · acting as callers for country and barn dancing at the school summer fete, and participating in demonstrations of traditional dances from around the world · taking part in street, tap, ballet, Afrobeat, and Bon Odori after school – involve parents with traditional knowledge to help teach · learning about the stamina, discipline, history and culture of dance in science, history, geography, RE and PSHE And if you’re not sure where to start, I find the following resources super helpful in organising dance classes: · Arts Council England on the management side of dance teaching: tinyurl.com/tp-ACEdance · Guidance on teaching dance from Artsmark: tinyurl.com/tp-AMdance · BBC Teach resources: tinyurl.com/tp-BBCTdance · BBC Step-by-Step framework: tinyurl.com/tp-BBCstep · BetterHealth on staying safe: tinyurl.com/tp-BHdance · Tips for introducing classical ballet from the Royal Ballet: tinyurl.com/tp-RBschools · YouTube videos to introduce dance from different cultures - Shaku shaku: tinyurl.com/tp-YTshaku - Bata (Nigerian traditional dance): tinyurl.com/tp-YTbata - Bharatanatyam (Indian classical): tinyurl.com/ tp-YTbharatanatyam - Bon Odori (Japan): tinyurl.com/ tp-YTbonodori The moral of the story? Dance offers a lifetime of benefits for everyone, and the younger they start, the longer the fun can continue! TP Just dance! www.teachwire.net | 59 Anderley Hampson is a former teacher with 35 years’ experience, and is now a copywriter for Sportsafe. sportsafeuk.com ‘ @sportsafeuk Start your pupils off on a healthy path, and they’ll reap the benefits of moving to music far beyond childhood, says Anderley Hampson HE A L TH & WE L L BE I NG S P E C I A L