CREATIVE DANCE AND MOVEMENT CPD FOR TEACHERS

6th October 2009

Inspiring Creativity - Dance in the Curriculum

Children, young people and other residents in four Highland communities will soon have the opportunity to participate in an exciting new dance project called Body Currents. Body Currents is a dynamic workshop and performance programme that will give people the opportunity to participate in dance activities over a nine month period including workshops and classes in and out of school time in the areas around Aviemore, Dornie, Lybster and Fort William. The workshops and classes will be led by professional dance artists working in a range of dance styles for example hip-hop, contemporary, street and traditional and are aimed at primary and secondary teachers.

Each dance residency will culminate in spectacular, outdoor community performances and events. The first residencies are due to start in September 2009 in the Fort William and Dornie areas.

The project is being led by a partnership between Eden Court, Highland Council, Learning and Leisure, and professional dance company plan B and has secured funding from the Scottish Arts Council, Leader, The Robertson Trust and the Highland Culture Programme.

As part of the Body Currents project we are delighted to offer tailor made CPD for teachers in Creative Dance. All sessions will be predominantly practical, providing games, warm-ups, short exercises, creative tasks and a routine which can all be taken away and tried out immediately. Each session is 2 hours.

Teachers participating will receive a handbook of games and exercises, and a DVD of short routines.

Throughout the course a variety of styles and techniques will be utilized including Street Dance, Jazz, Contemporary, Traditional and World dance.

Throughout the course participants will gain skills in delivering dance activities which will expand the movement ability of pupils, improve their dance technique and dance related skills such as rhythm and timing, spatial awareness, body awareness, co-ordination, creative expression and imagination plus strength, stamina and flexibility.

The sessions will also highlight the transferable skills of dance activities such as co-operation, initiative, concentration and focus, communication and self-confidence. All the activities contribute to Health and Wellbeing and Expressive Arts outcome within the Curriculum for Excellence.

The course aims to enable teachers to gain confidence in delivering dance and integrating dance activities into the curriculum.

The CPD will take place in/around Fort William, Aviemore, Lybster, Dornie/Skye or wherever there is the highest demand within the Body Currents areas. The sessions will be twighlight afterschool and take place on either Tuesdays or Thursdays for a total of 12 weeks over the school year. The first planned dates are listed below with further dates to be announced for the new year:

Tuesday 10th & Thursday 12th November
Tuesday 24th & Thursday 26th November
Tuesday 8th & Thursday 10th December

For further information about the Body Currents project and CPD opportunities for schools please contact Lynn Johnson, Arts Links Officer, Highland Council, lynn.johnson[AT]highland.gov.uk, 01463 732651