Dance is an important part of the curriculum and a popular extra-curricular activity at Woodside. Dance is taught as part of the PE curriculum and, for year 3 for the past 5 years, ballet has also been taught as part of The Royal Ballet "Chance to Dance" scheme. Children have a term of lessons led by professional dancers and musicians from The Royal Ballet, take part in a performance at The Thameside Theatre, attend a ballet at Covent Garden and gifted children are identified and given the chance to continue lessons with The Royal Ballet.
Infant children have a music player outside at lunchtime and are encouraged to try disco dancing, there is a free lunchtime club for juniors and Woodside is the venue for various external dance groups with many of our pupils attending their classes.
Chance to Dance aims to:
•Increase access to ballet and dance for children who would not otherwise have the chance to experience or participate in the art form (especially those who live outside London);
•Connect children, their schools and families to the inspirational repertory, choreographers and dancers of The Royal Ballet;
•To nurture and develop talent in children from culturally, ethnically and socio-economically diverse backgrounds;
•To collaborate with local and national dance and education partners to model best practice in the creative teaching of ballet;
•To create more accessible pathways into vocational training and a career in the dance industry, for those who face barriers to accessing existing opportunities;
•To work with delivery partners to evaluate the project model.