St. Ethelbert's Catholic Primary School, Ramsgate

Under Attack

We wanted to:

• Achieve our personal best
• Portray pattern through dance and music
• Showcase our talents
• Increase our skills and dance techniques
• Work well as a team – socially, sharing ideas and through keeping in time with one another while we perform
• Hear others perspectives of pattern and outcome of work
• Meet other children identified as G & T from our area

What We Did

• Auditioned for a position in the G&T team for the event w/c 26th Jan
• Gave children results 2nd Feb
• Mrs Lockwood organised a suitable coach to come in and work with the children
• Mrs Lockwood met Caroline our dance coach on 13th Feb
• Met to discuss plans for coaching with the children 24th Feb
• Met all of the children involved from each of the schools participating at the Turner Gallery; where we looked at the exhibition and worked in mixed groups on tasks set by local artists – 4th March.
• Met at school to discuss ideas for the style of dance (hip hop and body popping styles were the choice (forwarded ideas to Caroline)– James Samson being the inspiration for some of the group) 5th March
• Coach – Caroline came in to discuss dance styles and music.  They agreed a piece 6th March
• Caroline went away to make some preliminary preparations for the dance based upon what we had discussed
• 1st dance session 25th March
•  29th April – showcased work so far to parents at school Variety show (was incomplete but modified for delivery – good response).
• Continued coaching with input from children on choreography.  We videoed the children at school so that they could see themselves in action and make corrections to their work.
• After G&T project meeting on16th June children prepared a short presentation to introduce their work
• Delivery at Droit House 23rd June

What Impact Did It Have For The Children Involved?

• Increased self esteem
• Increased skill and dance technique
• Better knowledge of choreography
• Increased fitness
• Confidence in their abilities
• Pride in their work
• Good team work and negotiation
• Increased awareness of other peoples perspectives and inspirations based on the same stimulus
• Made new friends from different schools
• Practice in speaking and listening, including public speaking
• Inspiration from other schools in Literacy, Art and DT, ICT, Music and Gymnastics.
• Feeling part of a ‘bigger picture’, part of the project 20 in 12, the community of Thanet; as well as potential for inspiring others through publicity
• A sense of importance after being chosen to participate in a project of such high calibre

Did The Work Lead To Any Differences Within The School?

• A ‘buzz’ of excitement
• Many children pass while the children are rehearsing and they stop to watch and are inspired to achieve the same as them
• Children want to showcase talent  in other areas (they want to tell you what they are good at)
• G&T children have been able to share their experience, opinions and feelings with others in the school, which has opened their minds.  Some children thought that going to an art museum would be boring which was not the case, instead others were encourage d to do the same.
• Our dance coach is now employed by 15 children to run at club after school every week
• Children besides the G&T group were able to produce a dance of high quality for our variety show to parents at the Granville Theatre in April
• Many boys have been inspired to join the dance clubs