Step into Dance is a fully inclusive programme, working in a wide range of schools all over London, including mainstream schools, pupil referral units and SEN schools. The Vale Special School in Haringey has been on the programme for 2 years and the students involved have gone from strength to strength. Please read more about their experience below.
Before ‘Step into Dance’ the students at the Vale School had little or no opportunity to study dance in the curriculum. Since joining, dance has become an exciting journey of discovery for all concerned.
Our first steps in dance were taken with Nina Brunner a practitioner with a strong commitment to disabled students. We presented a ‘Nanny Town’, in the school and local community. The video of this devised dance gained a screening at the BFI. The following term Nina co-ordinated an invigorating performance consisting of student selected dance styles that reflected their own cultures and interests and all accompanied by live music.
When Tom Clarke and Gemma Coldicott took over, we focused on individual movement abilities and potentials. Concentrated mat work, the movement dynamics of wheelchairs (powered and manual) and sensitive work with students on the autistic spectrum were all notable highlights in very exciting workshops.
Complimenting the Vale School’s cross-curricular ethos, we presented the folktale ‘Smok Wawelski’ a Polish/English dual language storytelling movement piece with drumming. The following term, Gemma devised ‘Stretching’, which explored extending individual movement abilities as well as creating movement pathways with the different groups.
We were very pleased to show this piece at the Haringey Borough Event organized by Sue Goodman. Taking part in the event demanded a huge physical and emotional commitment from both students and staff. This was amply rewarded by simply having the opportunity of being able to take part, to be visible, to be appreciated by peers and contemporaries, to be able to entertain and be bathed in the huge cheers and applause at the end of the performance. Self-esteem boosted, we were there. Yes, we can dance.
Richard Tharp The Vale School, Haringey