News
Launch of Satellite School
Posted 17 January 2012
Central School of Ballet (CSB), one of Europe’s premier centres for dance training and education, is launching a satellite school in Southwark to give pupils in the borough access to free weekly dance lessons.
Started at the end of October, the free classes have been running for a trial period of five weeks before the official launch on Wednesday 7th December. The dance classes are running in partnership with three of Southwark’s primary schools, and are hosted each week at Alfred Salter Primary School in Quebec Way in Rotherhithe. To date 100 pupils are regularly attending the weekly classes which are planned to run during term time up to July next year.
Funding for the Southwark-based project has come from monies raised by CSB from The Ironmongers' Company, one of the 12 great Livery Companies of the City of London. The funding includes the provision of dance teaching staff; a pianist and a dance uniform for the participating pupils and includes dance shoes.
Children, both boys and girls from Year 3 to Year 6, from Redriff Primary School, St James Primary School as well as Alfred Salter Primary School have been invited to take part. Classes take place after school ends each Wednesday and last for an hour each. There are three levels of class offered based on CSB’s unique model of dance training covering Grades 1-3. The participating schools have held assemblies with a dance theme with information supplied by CSB to engage pupil’s interest.
CSB’s Satellite School, now running in Southwark and planned to expand to other areas in the future, is particularly directed at pupils who may not have access to regular dance classes outside the school curriculum. CSB’s director Sara Matthews explains how the project originated: “Central School of Ballet has long been committed to engaging children in dance across London’s boroughs. Through our relationships with primary and secondary schools, and our annual performances, our Dancing Partners project has allowed over 3000 children to experience dance over the past 10 years. This new initiative is the next step in this programme and an exciting development in our participation work that addresses the gap in year-round dance provision for primary school children in one of the borough’s most deprived areas.”
Sara adds: “This project is the next stage in our long-term partnership with Southwark Primary Schools and it represents a completely new, sustainable approach to dance participation work.”
The benefits of regular dance classes are multifarious, as Jess Mahoney, CSB’s Learning & Participation Manager explains: “Feedback from schools across the country where we run workshops is unanimously positive. Not only do pupils enjoy the workshops their teachers tell us, but they also break down any preconceptions about dance and improve creativity. Dance classes provide pupils the opportunity to be physically active but offer so much more. Dance helps the development of coordination, the ability to respond to music and it requires discipline and focus. We find that there are emotional benefits too such as building confidence. And all this can feed back into behaviour in the normal classroom and at home, and help motivate participation in other physical exercise.”
“We could not offer any of this activity without the support of generous organisations and individuals”, Jess adds. “We are particularly grateful to The Ironmongers’ Company for funding the first six months of the project in Southwark to help build a strong foundation for the future.”
Shaun Dellenty, Deputy Headmaster of Alfred Salter Primary School comments: “We are delighted to host Central School of Ballet’s Satellite School. The children have been incredibly excited about taking part in the dance classes and we have seen an excellent response already. Alfred Salter School is committed to developing excellence in The Arts and this collaboration with CSB enables our students to access first-class dance training – something that hasn’t been available in the area previously – on their doorsteps.” He adds: “We are looking forward to the future development of the Satellite School and the benefits this will bring for children in the area.”
The Ironmongers’ Company said: “We are pleased to support Central School of Ballet's Satellite School for primary aged children in Southwark. The Company is committed to giving children from disadvantaged backgrounds the skills and motivation they need to make the most of life. The satellite school offers an enjoyable way to build confidence, discipline and fitness for children who would not otherwise be able to access high quality dance training.”
Ends
For more information visit www.centralschoolofballet.co.uk
For press information and images please contact Hamilton Consulting Tel: 020 8742 0566
Anita Hamilton m: 07768 778 772 email: Anita@hamiltonconsulting.org.uk
