Published: Thursday, 20th November, 2008 10:00
Prestigious dance company gives pupils tips
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Dance teachers help Hugh Faringdon pupils put a spring in their step.
Pic by: Andy Evans
SCHOOL pupils showed off some modern moves when a leading contemporary dance group led a workshop.
A dancer and a musician from London’s Rambert Dance Company visited Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School in Southcote on Tuesday.
The school’s community arts co-ordinator Sally Andreou said: “We are just really excited because Rambert are just world class and we wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to work with this quality of dancers.”
The workshops were attended by 23 pupils aged 12-15 from the Fawley Road school’s gifted and talented stream.
“They learnt a dance from the company’s latest show, Eternal Light, which the pupils travelled to Bath to see on November 8.
Rambert dance teacher Laura Harvey, 26, said: “It’s been really great.
“I think they took a little while to warm up – lots of them are scared of getting it wrong, but it’s not like that. I think their confidence has grown.”
Dance student Faye Gobbi, 13, said the show was very eye-opening and it was interesting in the workshop to see how the dancers work.
Jenna Lainsbury-Ford, 14, said: “We got to learn the dance that was actually performed by the professionals. It was quite hard to learn, but it was good.” Another group worked on music inspired by the show and its theme of remembrance.
Rambert music teacher Russell Hepplewhite, 26, said: “They’ve been doing fantastically well. They’ve come up with some really original and interesting ideas. They’ve drawn on their own experiences to create what we hope will be a fantastic piece.”
The workshops were set up by music education charity EMI Music Sound Foundation, which gave £27,000 towards the school’s successful bid to become a specialist performing arts school.
Chief executive Janie Orr said: “From our point of view, I think what is lovely is bringing professional musicians into the school and seeing how all the children who are taking part are having their skill levels lifted.”
Headteacher Paul Barras said: “We are a school with children from ordinary backgrounds – in general ordinary kids don’t get these chances. It’s a tremendous opportunity.”
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