Streetdance Club
Streetdance is a really accessible dance form for children; it is high energy, lots of fun and a great way to exercise. So far this has been our most popular afterschool club with participants enjoying the sessions so much they have continued dancing after the end of the project by joining our weekly workshops at Zion.
Our Primary school projects are aimed at complete beginners and over the course of six weeks the group are introduced to basic movements and steps which are slowly developed into routines. The children work as a group to hone their piece and work towards a performance - this is normally at the end of term in assembly in front of parents, teachers and peers. The children develop co-ordination , rhythm and performance skills and really work together as a group. In one of our projects last year a young girl started making her own dance mixes at home to bring in for the troupe! Pupils at Claremont Primary School in Moss Side
Workshop Leaders
Our Dance teachers are our dance artists in residence Naomi Pemberton and Christina Taylor. Naomi learnt her craft with professional company Dekoy Dance, a group originally formed in Moss Side to act as a decoy to the negative press young people in the area were recieving. The dance company offered an escape or 'decoy' from the negative into something positive, creating a non-competitive atmosphere where creative exploration of movement was encouraged. Christina Taylor runs our weekly streetdance classes at Zion and performs and competes around the country with her own dynamic dance company Cold Passion and XL Productions.
Teachers
It is widely acknowledged that dance has a positive impact on both mental and physical health. For a variety of reasons there are significantly fewer boys than girls participating in dance activities out of school and even fewer continuing the subject to higher education. Dance genres such as streetdance and breakdancing (with their roots in Hip Hop) are becoming increasingly recognised as an exciting physical activity for boys and there are plenty of examples where schools have taken positive action to encourage boys participation in dance and seen dramatic improvements in behaivour and attainment. Our streetdance projects have had a great mix of girls and boys, working together towards a final performance in front of their peers a real achievement. Many go on to continue dancing at our weekly classes at Zion. The project fits in with SEAL - Going for Goals, Inclusion and meets the Enjoy and Achieve agendas within Every Child Matters.
If you would like to find out more information about our dance projects and opportunities for your school, please contact our Learning & Participation Officer Vicky Clarke on 0161 226 1912 or email vicky@zionarts.com
Street Dance Workshops at Zion
Our resident street dance experts - Naomi Pemberton and Christina Taylor - also run two weekly classes at Zion completely free for under 18s!
Teen Street Dance
Thursdays - 6.30-8pm (age 13+)
Under 18s free/ £2.50 over 18s
Street Dance Class
Saturdays - 10am-12pm (ages 5-13)
Free!
