Talented Dance students from Years 7-9 were excited to participate in Swindon Dance Workshop on Sunday 26th April. 

The group were preparing their contemporary commercial fusion piece for the annual summer showcase taking place on Thursday 18th June. After a challenging technique class, with lots of floor work, students worked creatively in collaboration with their choreographer, Izzy Long, creating a piece which is going to be an exciting addition to ‘Let’s Dance 2026’.

Izzy, our workshop leader, trained at Trinity Laban in Contemporary Dance. Following this, she completed a Jasmin Vardimmon professional development diploma with Jasmin Vardimmon Dance Company as part of JV2.

Head of Dance, Beth Butler, explained, “Our students had really high energy and I am so impressed with their level of commitment and enthusiasm to the project. It has given them a taster into a professional setting as this is the way a company would work when creating a piece. Having opportunities to work with industry professionals is enriching for our students who are keen on Dance, as it allows them to develop a knowledge and understanding of the expectations, discipline and creative processes of the industry. They have gained an insight into a different style and approach to choreography that extends beyond the classroom. Learning directly from Izzy helped to build their adaptability, as students were challenged to step outside of their comfort zones and respond to new ideas. It helped them to take greater ownership of their learning in Dance and deepened their appreciation of Dance as both an art form and a potential future career. We were lucky enough to be able to run this workshop due to the generous support of the Parent & Staff Community (PSC) whose financial contribution made this workshop possible.”

The students clearly enjoyed the experience with Vivia (Year 9) reflecting, “I was surprised, as the piece was a mix of contemporary dance and hip hop. For me, it was a wonderful experience and I learned a lot from it.”  Whilst Daria (Year 8) enthused, “I think it is a fabulous experience and I am so grateful for this opportunity. I can’t wait for ‘Let’s Dance!’”

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