Hamble SSP 2009/2010 Project

The Hamble SSP is 1 of a number of partnerships that have signed up to the ‘Essentially Dance’ package this year. This article aims to share the success to date of the project within the primary and secondary schools that have taken part in 2 out of 3 days of training.

All schools in the SSP were invited to apply to take part and 20 schools were selected on a first come first served basis. The funding for the training is being met by the SSP through a YST Lead Practitioner in Dance grant, applied for and secured by the PDM. The successful schools were asked to commit the same 2 teachers to the 3 days (Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced) training over the year and to meet the supply cover costs. In addition, where possible, schools were asked to send a male and female teacher and to commit to setting up and running a Ballroom Dance Club at their school.

Teachers have so far attended 2 days out of 3. Some of them are specialist PE teachers but not dance specialists, others are learning support assistants or primary school teachers, no one attending has done a ballroom dance class before.

The feedback from the training so far has been very encouraging and extremely positive on all accounts. The proof of the pudding is that the delegates have all returned as requested for further training but not only that they were looking forward to it and many had tales of success to tell about the clubs they had started in their schools.

The head of PE (male) together with another teacher from one secondary school has run an extra -curricular club with key stage 4 students and then those students invited  senior citizens from the local community to attend a ‘tea dance’ led by the students, a huge success so much so the event has been repeated!

One primary school has introduced ballroom dance into the curriculum across the school as well as setting up an after school club linked to the extended schools after school care club.

Another male PE teacher from a secondary school has not yet had the courage to start a club but the training has completely changed his perception of dance and what it can offer in terms of learning life skills. On a personal note from ‘dreading’ it he has enjoyed it so much he is now attending dance classes independently with his wife to keep his hand in and to practice the skills so he can support the dance department when they start a Ballroom Dance Club. He said the hardest thing was going back to the PE department following the training and actually admitting to his colleagues that he enjoyed it!

Another school is using ballroom dance to drive an inter community, intra school competition. During PHSE lessons tutor groups (which are mixed year groups in a vertical pastoral system) are taking part in mixed age and mixed gender sessions taught by and then judged by the 2 teachers who attended the training (a PE teacher and a maths teacher).

As a PDM what I have been impressed with is the potential of the package that is offered by Essentially Dance to support teaching and learning in schools and its suitability for use with all key stages. The versatility is endless for example it can engage previously disengaged students, its’ fun, it can be used to deliver intra competition, it can bring together students from different year groups, it’s an ideal mixed gender activity, it can help links with the local community as part of community cohesion projects, it’s an attractive form of dance for male teachers to teach. In addition the resources that come with the training are user friendly and clearly put together with the teacher in mind, the DVD is clear and the handbook signposts teachers to cross curricular links and different ways the dances can be used as well as giving details of the history of the dances.

Following the 3^rd training session there will be a celebration event hosted by the partnership. All schools that have taken part in the training will be invited to attend and the afternoon will cater for all key stages. All participants will watch each other providing the opportunity for all to appreciate performance and to integrate with pupils and students from other schools. Essentially Dance tutors are available to help organise the event and to assist on the day. All participants will receive a certificate to acknowledge their contribution to the event.