A series of photo opportunities publicising next month's ACE dance festival will be held across Cumbria tomorrow.
The festival, which is sponsored by Cumberland Building Society, brings together pupils from Allerdale, Carlisle, Copeland, Barrow and Eden schools to perform and celebrate their achievements in dance.
The following photo opportunities will all take place tomorrow, Wednesday March 1:
- Alfred Barrow School, Barrow-in-Furness (11.30am-12.30pm)
Dance Resource Ltd will be working with a group of Y7 pupils rehearsing their performance for the ACE dance festival.
- Barrow Island Primary School, Barrow-in-Furness (1pm-2pm)
Dance Resource Ltd will be working with a group of reception pupils rehearsing their performance for the ACE dance festival.
- Warwick Bridge School, Warwick Bridge, Carlisle, (2pm-3pm)
Dancer Heather Main will be working with a group of Y6 children rehearsing their performance for the ACE dance festival.
The ACE dance festival will take place at theatre venues across Cumbria. Dance is one of the six activity areas of National Curriculum PE and is studied at all key stages.
Carlisle and Eden schools will kick off the Festival on March 10 with their show at the Sands Centre, Carlisle. Twenty schools are involved and performances will range from reception classes to GSCE dance pupils.
The second show is at Forum 28, Barrow on Monday March 13. Thirteen Furness schools are involved in this performance - that’s over 300 pupils. All the pupils taking part have been working in school during the spring term with their teacher or with the assistance of a dance artist to choreograph a piece for performance. The dance artists bring with them their own particular dance styles and experiences. They are all local dancers and they have been selected both for their ability to work well with young people and for their creative expertise.
The third show is at Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven on Thursday 15th and Friday 16th March for Copeland schools. This is the first time that Copeland has been involved in the festival. Tony Gagg, a teacher from St Gregory’s & St Patrick’s School in Whitehaven said: “This is a great opportunity for Copeland schools to get involved in a countywide initiative and to see what other schools are doing with dance. It’s a unique way to build confidence and self-esteem in our young people, and it’s particularly nice for such young children to be involved.”
The fourth performance will take place at Maryport Civic Hall on Monday March 20 for Allerdale schools. Nine schools will take part and the show will go ahead twice, at 6pm and at 7.30pm, to enable as many family and friends to see the show as possible.
Finally, The Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal is hosting its annual Schools Dance Platform from Monday 27th to Wednesday 29th March inclusive. Many South Lakeland schools will be involved in this opportunity.
Tickets for all performances (except The Brewery) are priced at £3.50 and are available from the respective venue box offices.
The project has been co-ordinated by Barbara Renel (Cumbria Dance), Amanda Mortlock (Dance Resource Ltd), Vanessa Foster (Sport & PE Development Officer, Cumbria Sport) and Lynn Fade (Dance Co-ordinator, Cultural Policy Unit, Cumbria County Council).
The expansion and delivery of this countywide festival has been made possible with generous funding from the Cumberland Building Society.