Everyone is Born to Dance Committee

Origins
The “Everyone is Born to Dance” committee was formed to help and encourage young people to take up dancing. The committee took the viewpoint that we needed to change the manner in which dancing was perceived. The committee rightly concluded, as there was no short-term solution that to target very young children with the very wonderful type of dancing that we had to offer was the correct route. As a result of this conclusion two schemes have been devised to teach children dance at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 a simple but fun syllabus.

Scheme 1
To test the reactions of head teachers regarding our type of dancing a pilot scheme was set up where 20 professionals from different parts of the UK gave their services free to teach children at Key Stage 1 or 2 levels. It is important for the readers to know that dancing is compulsory at this level for six weeks in the school year. Each head teacher was asked to complete a report form so we could assess the scheme and the response was excellent and hugely encouraging. As a result this pilot scheme is now a permanent scheme and qualified teachers can apply to the British Dance Council for a pack containing a syllabus and helpful information to enable the dance teacher to contact their local schools head teacher.

Scheme 2
As the success of scheme 1 became known it became obvious that many LEA schools wishing to take part did not have in their area a qualified dance teacher. The committee took the decision, supported by the British Dance Councils board of directors to engage ion a scheme to teach school teachers how to teach school children to dance a very simple syllabus. This decision to teach school teachers was based on the understanding that the school children had to have dance lessons. Education authorities, whilst producing a directive to school teachers, did not supply a syllabus to enable school teachers to teach, in our view, an enjoyable set of dances. Hence it was thought likely that children, particularly boys were not having a good first experience of dance. Based on the experience gained by the pilot scheme the four dances selected for school teachers to teach were Paso Doble, Merengue, Rhythm Foxtrot and Disco Freestyle. These dances were selected bearing in mind that the school teachers would have to learn them and be able to instruct them in a clear and strong vocal manner. This scheme will operate primarily in educational schools where qualified dance teachers are not available. This scheme has already been operated and was hugely successful.

Report by Caroline Peters Sport Coordinator

Everyone is Born to Dance
Administration Centre,
New Cottage Dance Centre,
Ystrad Mynach, Hengoed
Wales
CF82 7ED