Pupils learn a world of new dances (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Pupils learn a world of new dances

9:35am Monday 19th July 2010 in

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DANCING styles from around the world were taught to children at six schools who took part in a multi-cultural festival.

Pupils from the Fort Hill cluster schools in the Winklebury area of Basingstoke were visited by dancers from WiseMoves Dance Company, in Salisbury, who showed them different styles of dancing including Bollywood, Chinese, street, hip hop, samba fusion and African.

Around 130 children, selected from each school, spent five hours during the day learning the moves from the professional teachers.

In the evening, all six schools in the cluster performed their newly-learned routines to parents, teachers, governors and others from the local community.

Food from around the world was offered to visitors who also took part in a dance workshop before the performances began.

Along with the children’s dances, the professional teachers also entertained the audience with a routine.

It is hoped the dance festival will become an annual event for Fort Hill Community School, Winklebury Infant and Junior schools, Castle Hill Infant and Junior Schools and Chiltern Primary School, which are all part of the cluster.

Mark Wright, school sports co-ordinator at Fort Hill who organised the day, said: “The feedback was phenomenal. We are hoping next year to do something even bigger and better. It’s important in a community such as Winklebury to bring everyone together.”