ABOUT
DanceWise is a programme of illustrated talks for aimed at young people from P5 through to sixth year, delivered to groups of around 25 pupils focusing on a particular production or piece of repertoire. The talks are highly interactive and encourage questions from pupils. Combining the use of costume, props, image, video and a power point presentation, DanceWise is delivered by Scottish Ballet‘s highly experienced Education Officers. The talks also include an insight into the history of Scottish Ballet and in particular on the transition Scotland’s national dance company has undergone to emerge as the contemporary and dynamic dance performance producer it is today.
The DanceWise programme is an entirely new departure for Scottish Ballet and therefore a new experience for schools. By tageting pupils though different curricular areas such as English and various expressive arts disciplines, the majority of the talks reach young people who would not otherwise access dance or ballet.
DanceWise was also tailored to suit the more specialised needs of the relatively small, but growing, number of pupils studying Higher Dance within the curriculum.
PURPOSE
This project aims to place education at the heart of and integral to, the work of the Scottish Ballet. Dance Wise has two purposes – for schools and for the company.
For Schools:
- – To give pupils a greater understanding and appreciation of the work of a performing company
- – To give pupils an insight into some of the skills required within both the art form and the company
- – To lay the foundations for a lifelong engagement with dance
- – To give pupils and teachers the confidence to attend a dance performance and to appreciate the experience
- – To provide teachers with ideas for different approachs to the new curriculum
- – To allow pupils to gain more knowledge into the production values of the work by referencing the technical, stage craft and practicalities of touring and creating a production/season
- – To appreciate and understandthe diversity of Ballet as a choreographic language and a collaborative art form
For the company:
- – To extend the Company’s work into secondary schools
- – To extend the Company’s work to ensure truly national coverage
- – To diversify the points of entry that Scottish Ballet offers schools and young people
Through DanceWise, Scottish Ballet aims to give pupils and teachers greater confidence and the ability to discuss openly the work and to express their own opinions and ideas. The project aims to develop the skills to examine how to approach certain aspects of a production and to be able to recognise and understand the various artistic elements that make up and bring alive narrative structure. Above all, DanceWise aims to give young people a more enjoyable experience as a result of a deeper understanding.
The project aims to develop thinking around how pupils would approach certain aspects of a production, enabling them to recognise and understand the different artistic elements that make up and bring alive narrative structure. Scottish Ballet’s focus was to enable pupils to apprecite and understand:
- – the stylistic progressions of Scottish Ballet as both a company and as an artform
- – the diversity of ballet as a choreographic language and as a collaborative art form, drawing in their own area of study ie. Art and design, English (finding and looking at the narrative in the productions).
DanceWise is also designed to enable pupils gain more knowledge and a deeper understanding of the production values of the work, by referencing the technical, stage craft and practicalities of touring and creating a production/season.
FEEDBACK
‘[the] Talk caught the pupil’s imagination. Glad we had this opportunity before seeing the show. Good use of ICT (Information & Communication Technology) to elaborate on the actual ballet. These are the types of activities there should be much more of in the school, so that we become involved with what’s happening in our community and throughout Scotland.
‘Pupils were given the chance to respond to ideas and felt relaxed enough to ask questions – a real credit to [the Scottish Ballet staff’s] professionalism. There is scope to continue work within English (looking at aspects of performance in particular). We are very keen to continue our association with the Company.’
The Royal High School, Edinburgh
In 3 years, 49 DanceWise talks reached 1,523 pupils across Scotland and a further 3 DanceWise talks were shared live GLOW with at least 19 schools participating in teh Glow events. Recordings are accessible through GLOW for others to download and use as a resource.
The level of engagement has been sustained, in line with Scottish Ballet’s targets, and 87% of evaluation respondents said they and their pupils had a changed perception of ballet; 71% of teachers said that they recognised an increased understanding of ballet by their students and 100% of teachers responding said they would like their school to be involved in future Scottish Ballet activities.
OTHER
Partners:
- – Local Authorities
- – Cultural Co-ordinators
Levels and Stages:
- – Third and fourth levels
- – Senior phase
- – P5 – S6
Funding:
- – The Paul Hamlyn Foundation
- – Scottish Ballet Education Budget
For more information contact:
Catherine Cassidy, Associate Director (Education) on 0141 331 2931 or email catherine.cassidy@scottishballet.co.uk
or visit:
