TWSSP Dance Week comprises a wide range of activities for all schools, including themed workshops, specialist performances, staff training, competitions and primary dance afternoons hosted by secondary schools and their senior dancers/leaders. This year’s theme was ‘Dance and the Movies’, allowing schools to focus their dance activities on any form of film, including specific scenes, characters, soundtracks and dialogues.

During the week a number of dance teachers from local dance schools ran some fantastic themed workshops in our partner primary schools. St Gregory’s and Bennett Memorial secondary schools hosted cluster dance workshops which saw their experienced dance leaders work with pupils from their cluster primary schools.

Male students from TWHS, Bennett and Skinners took part in four break dance workshops in the lead up to and during Dance Week. St Gregory’s hosted a hearing impaired workshop for local students of all ages. This was run by Loop Dance Company and organised by Rebecca Miles (SSCo & Dance Specialist). The WOKSSA Dance Festival involved over 100 KS2 pupils participating in dance activities run by Homewood and Cranbrook dance leaders held at Cranbrook School.

The themed sessions included dances from The Lion King, Jungle Book, Toy Story, High School Musical and Grease. Dance Machine UK lead demonstrations in TWHS, TWGGS, Angley and Homewood and saw over 180 students take part in a friendly competition whilst perfecting their dance skills using technology popularly found in the arcades.

Dance Week culminated on the Friday evening with ‘Dance and the Movies’, a selection of performances from all nine of our partnership secondary schools. It concluded with the presentation of the TWSSP Dance Cluster Award which went to Tunbridge Wells High School and TWSSP Choreography Award which was presented to Cranbrook School for their predominately male piece based on the movie ‘Honey’. The TWSSP Photography Competition winners were Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys for their energetic and enthusiastic salsa trio.

TWSSP Dance Week continues to inspire students of all ages and abilities. Senior dancers have since gained places in further education colleges majoring in dance, while others are pursuing the dance teacher training avenue.

I would like to thank the many staff, students, dance teachers and local organisations for all their hard work and enthusiasm during Dance Week 2008.

Particular thanks go to the following teachers and their dance schools for giving their time voluntarily in support of Dance Week. We very much look forward to working with you again in the near future.

Nikki Sturgeon - Aerodance
Catherine Bellinger - Catherine Bellinger School of Dance
Amy Mead - Feetbeats Dance School
Maria Smith -Wadhurst School of Dancing
Robert Gregg - Hip Hop 4 All
Daniel Pring - MSporti
Jessica McEwen