2007 Dance Festival pulls in 37 schools
Record numbers of school children took to the stage in specialist
dance routines, portraying poignant messages through
movement.
The local youngsters were part of the third annual Lowestoft and
Beccles Schools Sports Partnership dance festival, which this week
welcomed “more schools and even more pupil dancers,” as organisers
hailed it the “biggest event to date.”
Such has been the growth of the event, which started off as a one
day bonanza for Lowestoft schools only in 2005, that over 650
pupils from 37 partnership schools impressed on the Marina Theatre
stage on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 March.
In the past term, youngsters aged between 5 and 18 from each school
have been practicing their own dance piece and Schools Sports
Partnership Manager John Hughes said: “The festival offers the
opportunity to put all of these separate dances together into a
spectacular performance.”
With the schools split into performances over both days, rehearsals
took place at the theatre in the mornings before performances were
played out in front of a full house at the Marina on both
afternoons.
“I would like to thank the many staff and pupils who have given up
countless hours and worked so hard to prepare their dances,” Mr
Hughes said. “On behalf of the Schools Sports Partnership, I would
also like to thank Martin Halliday and his staff at the Marina
Theatre for their kind support”.
As well as the local schools, there was also the added bonus of
guest performances from the De Swaen Crew from France – who are
currently on an exchange visit and are working with dance students
at Kirkley High School – and the Waveney Youth Dance Company.
Among the schools taking part were:
Albert Pye Primary, Beccles Middle, Benjamin Britten High,
Blundeston Primary, Brampton Primary, Carlton Colville Primary,
Corton Primary, Crowfoot Primary, Dell Primary, Denes High, Elm
Tree Middle, Elm Tree Primary, Foxborough Middle, Gisleham Middle,
Harris Middle, Kirkley High, Lothingland Middle, Meadow Primary,
Northfield St Nicholas Primary, Oulton Broad Primary, Poplars
Primary, Ravensmere Infants, Ringsfield Primary, Somerleyton
Primary, Sir John Leman High, St Benets & St Margarets Primary,
St Michaels Primary, The Ashley School, Whitton Green Primary,
Woods Loke Primary and Worlingham Middle.
Further Information
Students wishing to join a youth dance group should contact Gabby
Cox at Dance East on 01473 295245.
DanceEast, based in Ipswich, acts as a catalyst in providing an
identifiable, creative and broad dance ecology for the East of
England. Their Spring programme for 2007 is full of exciting dance
activities throughout Suffolk. For details of regular classes and
workshops, visit
www.danceeast.co.uk .
Norfolk Dance offers imaginative and challenging opportunities for
people of all ages and abilities to become involved in dance. For
details on classes, workshops, performances and professional
development in Norwich and across the county, visit
www.norfolkdance.co.uk . The Garage is an
exciting performing arts venue for Norwich, situated opposite
Chapelfield Gardens. For further information, visit its own website
at
www.thegarage.org.uk .
June Glennie School of Dance
Lorne Road, Lowestoft
Tel: 01502 712958
Beccles Studio: 01502 713619
Lowestoft Studio: 01502 511173
For more information, visit
www.juneglenniedance.co.uk