Inspiring students through our primary steps demonstrations
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Inspiring young people with our Primary Steps demonstrations

We feel strongly that every child should have access to the arts. With our Primary Steps programme, with support from the Department for Education, we offer a positive introduction to dance to students across the UK who may not otherwise have the opportunity. Every year, we stage demonstrations and workshops for students at our partner primary schools to take part in. 

The programme 

Primary Steps is designed to help primary school students begin their dance journeys. Through weekly classes, they can learn new skills and explore dance in a supportive atmosphere for up to four years. After students complete the programme, they are offered advice on how they can continue to dance and progress with their training. Several students have transitioned into our Junior Associate Programme and full-time training from Primary Steps. 

Inspiring students through our primary steps demonstrations

Our demonstrations

Throughout October, we’ve delivered our demonstrations to Cardiff, Mansfield, Bury, Blackpool, Swindon, and Dagenham. These creative workshops enable primary school students to see our Pre-professional students and Junior Associates on the stage and participate themselves. It’s always a joy to see the spark that this ignites in the students taking part and how much they enjoy learning through ballet.

Our Associate Programme and Primary Steps Artistic Manager Victoria Collinson reflected on the past month of demonstrations:

Our Primary Steps demonstrations are a real highlight of the Autumn workshop season. For many of the Year 3 children from our partner primary schools, the demonstrations are the first time they will have been exposed to a ballet ‘performance.’ It really gives context to what they have been learning in their school workshop sessions. It is thrilling to hear gasps of amazement when they see the Pre-professional students perform pirouette sequences, grand allegro and pas de deux. Much appreciation is also shown the Junior Associate students who perform alongside the Pre-professional students. The demonstration classes are a brilliant way for us to engage with young children and hopefully inspire them to keep dancing even after the workshop season has finished.

Inspiring students through our primary steps demonstrations

We loved hearing what our partner schools thought of our workshops:

Find out how your school can start their dance journey.

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