DCMS Dance Links Brochure - Cornwall Healthy Schools

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What makes an effectiveschool-club link?Who are the best teachersof dance?Effective school-club links in dance should provideopportunities for all children and young people toexperience, and enjoy, high quality dance indifferent ways and in a wide variety of danceforms. Effective links work through collaborationsbetween schools and out-of-school danceproviders.School-club links in dance take one of two forms.A. Schools work through formal partnerships without-of-school dance providers to enhanceopportunities in dance for children and youngpeople within the curriculum.B. Schools signpost and support individual orgroups of children and young people to accessdance opportunities provided in the widercommunity.School-club links include:• attendance at private dance classes• activities offered by dance artists working inassociation with local dance agencies, venues orother organisations“I love doing what Ido and hope I can carryon for the rest of my life.Dance club participant”School-club links should aim to support childrenand young people in:• taking part in a range of dance activities in boththe school and the dance club• understanding how their experiences in schooland at the dance club complement each otherTeachers that are most effective in delivering highquality dance to children and young people arethose who:• believe in the value of dance and have a passionfor sharing dance with children and youngpeople• understand and meet the different needs ofparticipants of varied abilities, ages,backgrounds and stages of development• use a range of teaching and learning strategiesto meet the pupils’ individual learning needs andenable them to reach their potential• can successfully integrate composition,performance and appreciation• communicate all aspects of safe dance practicethrough their own practiceexperience are often accredited in one or more ofthe following ways:• degree in dance, or dance and another subject• vocational training at a stage school• certified courses for working in schools and othercommunity settings• links with regional and national dance agencies• registration with a private dance teachingassociation such as the Royal Academy of Dance(RAD), Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance(ISTD), British Ballet Organisation (BBO)Visiting dance artists should have Criminal RecordBureau disclosure at an enhanced level and theirown public liability insurance.• dance clubs before school, during lunchtimes orafter school• choosing dance clubs that are suited to what theywant to achieve• deliver appropriate and challenging danceactivities safely and effectively• opportunities to take part in informal danceactivities during breaks or lunchtimes• moving confidently between the school and thedance club• refresh their practice by taking part in continuingprofessional development• short-term dance projects leading up toperformances in school or for a wider public• balancing their commitment to, and involvementin, the school and the dance club• have knowledge of relevant legislation forworking with children and young people• residencies involving dance companies/danceprofessionals• performance groups run by out-of-school danceprovidersTeachers with these attributes and skills are mostlikely to enable children and young people to fulfiltheir potential in dance.Using visiting dance teachers• dance festivals where schools come together toshare skills, ideas and performancesMany schools and dance clubs use visiting danceartists with the in-depth knowledge, professionalexperience and practical skills to deliver highquality dance successfully. Dance artists’ skills and6 Dance LinksDance Links7
How do successful danceschool-club links work?Dance links in action:Examples of school-club linksKnowsley Dance ShowcaseBrookfield Sports College identified the lack ofopportunities for pupils at schools in Knowsley toattend after-school dance activities and perform inlarge-scale events. The Partnership DevelopmentManager approached Rebound Dance in Educationas the company had worked extensively in schoolsthroughout Knowsley. The school-club link wasinitially funded through the Big Lottery Programme(formerly the New Opportunities Fund) as a three-Integr-8 Youth Dance CompanyLudus Dance, the national dance agency for theNorth West, identified opportunities for integratedyouth dance in the North West of England. Itapproached Moorfield School, a special school inPreston for pupils aged 2–19 years, two otherspecial schools and three mainstream schools totake part in a residency with Stop Gap DanceCompany. At the end of the project, Moorfield waskeen for a weekly dance group to continue and“Ludus provides a high quality imaginative, professional approachto dance that has at its centre the desire to include and use theabilities of disabled young people to promote dance as anexpression of working together and also great enjoyment.Paul Johnson (Headteacher, Moorfield School)”• Before starting the school-club linkSchool-club links are supported by the wholeschool and are included in the school’s ethos,policy and planning. The school has the resourcesand knowledge needed to develop the link.• Getting startedThe school identifies the needs of children andyoung people, and forms a partnership with anappropriate out-of-school dance provider to meetthese needs. Aims and objectives for the link areagreed by both partners at the start of theproject.• Staying connectedThe role and responsibilities of each partner inthe link are identified, agreed and recorded inwriting. Effective communication takes placebetween partners for the lifetime of the link.• Reflection and progressionSimple and realistic methods of monitoring andevaluation are used throughout the link. Thefindings and recommendations are used toimprove the effectiveness of the link and to informfuture development. The benefits of the link areacknowledged and celebrated.year programme. Each year, members of Reboundled after-school sessions for 10 weeks in 20schools, for two families of schools within theSchool Sports Partnership. The sessions led to theperformance of a dance piece created with anartist from Rebound. In 2005, the event was sosuccessful that the performance was held at theTheatre Royal, St Helens. In the future, the aim is toinclude more families of schools from within thepartnership and to develop more youth dancegroups for pupils to join following involvement withthe project.offered free space at the school. The link, fundedby Preston City Council, focuses on weekly sessionsled by a member of Ludus Dance for the membersof the dance group, known as Integr-8 YouthDance Company. Participation is open to youngpeople from both special and mainstreameducation. Group members evaluate each sessionas part of an ongoing process. The group haveperformed in youth dance showcases and regularlyperform for parents and care staff. In the future, itis hoped to enlist existing members as supportleaders within the group and to develop furtherperformance opportunities for the company.8 Dance LinksDance Links9
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Page 3 and 4: About this guideThis guide aims to
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DCMS Dance Links Brochure - Cornwall Healthy Schools

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