Dance Success
On Wednesday 20th March, Smithills School Elite Dance Team competed in the UK Great Big Dance Off at The Victoria Theatre, Halifax. The team competed against 30 other secondary KS4/5 schools based in the North and were placed 1st, scoring an amazing 189 points out of 200 and are the North’s Regional Champions. The dance team is now going on to compete in the UK Great Big Dance Off Grand Final, in Cheltenham on 1st July.
The dance team rehearse every lunchtime and after school to prepare for dance events and competitions. The day before, on Tuesday 19th March, the team had also performed at the Bolton Albert Halls in the Bolton Dance Festival.
Each academic year, the Year 11’s that are involved are allowed to utilise the skills and knowledge that they have learned within the dance curriculum to plan, choreograph, costume, design music and lead the dance team. Two of our current Year 11 choreographers, Mya Taylor and Brooke Bardsley state that, ‘Mr Milthorpe gives us a range of opportunities to take the lead on choreographing dance pieces, designing music and planning costumes for forthcoming events and competitions, we have both thoroughly enjoyed learning new leadership qualities and passing down our expertise in dance and choreography to other pupils in the team’. Jamie Nugent, one of our Year 7 dance team pupils, states that ‘the offer of dance here at Smithills School is amazing and the opportunities that we are given have helped me to develop my confidence and work with pupils from other year groups’.
The Head of Faculty for Performing Arts and PE, Andy Milthorpe, states, ‘The dance team has gone from strength to strength since starting back in March 2016. The dance team, of around 35 pupils, who range from Years 7-11, work tirelessly during their lunch and after school, to choreograph, train and prepare for performances and competitions throughout the UK, on behalf of the school and the faculty I am exceptionally proud of each pupil for their energy and commitment to the team and wish them all the success with the final on 1st July.’
Read this story as featured on the Bolton News website - HERE.