Strictly comes to Gravesham - News - Gravesham SSP

Strictly comes to Gravesham

For all you strictly Fans!!!!!!!

Essentially Dance

Essentially Dance is a new initiative to teach ballroom and Latin American dance within schools' core physical education provision. The programme, formed by dance professionals, including Championship winners Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova, best known for their roles on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, and by physical education experts, will give every child in participating schools the chance to learn a new skill. 

Until now, there has been a gap in ballroom dance provision, meaning only those who can afford to access private ballroom dancing lessons can participate. As the first initiative to train school teachers to teach ballroom and Latin American dance within core PE provision, Essentially Dance is unique within the UK.  The National Curriculum based training packages are delivered to teachers and non-teaching school staff in stages - beginners, intermediate and advanced - and are then suitable for Key Stages 1 through to 5.  The scheme gives every school the opportunity to offer its students the chance to take part in an alternative form of PE.  The activity can be enjoyed by anyone of any age, and through this can help to break down the barrier between girls and boys, young and old, bringing forward the possibility of cross-generational activities within local communities.

On signing up, schools will receive training for two staff, to be used alongside three DVDs with demonstrations from Darren and Lilia, a CD with music, and booklets guiding them through the dances. The training resource will cater for all kinds of learning - visual, audio, and kinesthetic.

If you are interested we have managed to book a CPD course jointly with the Medway SSP. The course will be spread over 3 sessions – and all staff MUST attend all 3 of these. Ideally a teacher and TA will attend the course and then pass this onto their fellow colleagues back in school with the help of the resource.

The dates of the course are;

Tuesday 9th February 2010 - Medway

Tuesday 18th May 2010 - Gravesham

Wednesday 29th September 2010 – Medway

• All schools signing up will also have the opportunity to host Primary School Teachers to setup and run Ballroom and Latin Dance Club for Year 6 at their school with the aim to run an intra competition to select two couples who will represent their school at the Strictly Schools Come Dancing Extravaganza at the Woodville Halls in July 2010
• Strictly Schools Dance Extravaganza will provide a Live Video Conference link to all the ten local primary schools who will be hosting their own dance extravaganza led by a Dance Instructor involving students and parents.  During the course of the evening Students and Parents from the local primary schools will have the chance using their video conferencing system to vote live in traditional Eurovision contest style on the couples performing at the Woodville Halls.  Schools will not be able to vote for their own school.

 We only have 10 school places available so it will be first comes first served!!!!

 To Book a place please contact Julia Youens Partnership Development Manager    jgi@meopham.kent.sch.uk or 07791805108 for more details.

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