Stepping Out…

Step into Dance LIVE! at the Bloomsbury Theatre

Secondary Schools from North London took part in Step into Dance LIVE!, on Saturday 14 July, the culmination of a successful pilot dance programme introduced by the Royal Academy of Dance and sponsored by the Jack Petchey Foundation.

Since January The Royal Academy of Dance has taken Step into Dance into schools, over two terms, providing free, weekly dance classes to over 400 students in 28 secondary schools in four London boroughs.

Islington Arts & Media performing at Step into Dance LIVE!, photo Mark Lees

Twelve secondary schools took part in the diverse programme for the evening, 11 schools performed and one school, Jack Taylor School from Camden held a showing of work in June, which was filmed and screened on Saturday night.  Each of the four boroughs, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington were represented on the night and the size of the groups varied from a male duet to a piece for 15 dancers. There was also a good mix of dance genres; with street dance, contemporary, capoiera and jazz and fusions of each.  Jack Petchey OBE, founder of the Jack Petchey Foundation attended the premiere event and said:

“This has been a marvellous event.  Learning to dance is all part of self development and the young people involved can feel very proud of their achievement.  We are keen to encourage more schools in London to join this scheme”.

The evening, was brought to a close by remarks from Luke Rittner, Chief Executive of the RAD who was delighted to be able to announce that funding from the Jack Petchey Foundation would be continued next year, with a further £179,000 being allocated to enable the programme to be rolled out into four new boroughs, Wandsworth, Merton, Croydon and Hammersmith & Fulham, from January 2008. The programme will continue to run in the existing boroughs from the beginning of the Autumn term in September with new schools from the new boroughs coming on board from January 2008.

If you are a student or school representative wishing to find out how you or your school can get involved in Step into Dance, please contact Charlotte Slayford email: cslayford@rad.org.uk tel: +44 (0)20 7326 8002. 

We would also like to hear from qualified dance teachers who are interested in teaching in secondary schools.  Step into Dance teachers will have the opportunity to take part in a tailored training and development programme delivered in partnership with Youth Dance England and the National Dance Teachers Association.  For more information and application process, contact Anita Wadsworth, Community Dance Manager email: stepintodance@rad.org.uk tel: +44 (0)7890 008403.