Bishopsford Community School, Merton

Song and Dance Style
But Not for Me
Street Dance

Dance Artist
Nigel Kirk

Rehearsal Director
Selina Kirby

Rehearsal Assistants
Natalie Dobson and Lucie Gingell

Performers
Jade Bennett, Lauren Boulton, Tahrim Dhiman, Jack Gage, Megan Hogan, Vassil Ivanouva, Jack Leakey, Daniel Lucas, Maxine Maney, Sophia Martin-Williams, Danielle Matsell, Jodie Mayse, Kieran McSorley, Roxanne Moore, Lois Reilly, Kelly Rondeau

Our school wanted to join in with this project so that the pupils could experience dance beyond the classroom environment. The girls who were selected to participate are our gifted and talented pupils in the dance department. Most will want to further their dancing career professionally so performing at the Royal Albert Hall is an outstanding experience for them.

We are currently promoting dance delivery for boys within our school so, again, this project has had a great impact. Having a male choreographer has helped support this aspect as the boys were provided with a role model that they highly respected and aspired to be like.

Performing at the Royal Albert Hall will provide a once in a lifetime experience for these pupils; they have been given an amazing opportunity to perform to a very large audience in a highly professional environment, an experience that they most certainly will not forget.

We selected Street Dance as this style portrays our pupils; fast, energetic and strong minded. The pupils have been challenged with the fast tempo and hard dynamics of the style. Street Dance has been a trend within our school but is not used often as the majority of the dance lessons are based on the Contemporary style in order to prepare for the GCSE syllabus. This project has enabled our pupils to experience their favoured style with a professional touch.

We would like to thank Nigel Kirk, our Street Dance Artist. The first time he came to our school he gave the participating pupils a taster session. They loved every minute of it and were thirsty for more. By the second session the pupils were highly motivated and were able to digest and perform a high proportion of the dance by the end. All of the rehearsal sessions have been constructive and have enhanced the pupil’s performance skills.

All photographs by Sheila Burnett