Dance

Dance gives all children the chance to express themselves creatively, whilst improving their fitness and introducing them to different choreographies.

Dance is thriving in every year group here at Yarm Preparatory School and our pupils are developing a real love and passion for the activity. The classes are fun and energising and for that reason quickly engage our children, but they also support other subjects in the school and the key lessons we are trying to teach.

Why is dance important in education?

It pushes many children out of their comfort zone and challenges them to enjoy the thrill of performance. By doing so they build their confidence, self-esteem and collaborative skills.

There are strong links with literacy as it demands excellent listening and concentration skills. Learning different rhythms and beats also helps in terms of music education.

One of the most significant benefits is the positive effects on health and well-being. Dance is an extremely energetic activity and requires high levels of fitness, flexibility and coordination.

Our dance lessons

The aim of every class is for children to develop an appreciation of dance and build their confidence, discipline and dedication in the art. We believe by applying these skills in dance, our children will have a much better chance of carrying them across into other aspects of their lives.

Our Pre-Prep pupils are offered weekly ballet classes which are an incredible introduction to the world of ballet. Meanwhile, Years 3-6 broaden their techniques and knowledge of choreographies, including ballet, street, contemporary, jazz and creative movement.

We love to see our children developing their creative thinking and leadership skills throughout School and dance is no different. That’s why we teach pupils how to create effective and high level choreography through the application of choreographic devices.

Workshops and performances

It is important that our dance students get to demonstrate what they have learnt in class, which is why we offer so many performance opportunities including:

• DT Fashion show
• Charity events, like our mass dance for Sport Relief 2020
• School plays
• School assemblies
• Annual Dance Showcase. This event involves over 80 pupils form the Prep School who perform alongside the Senior School to celebrate and showcase all of their hard work from the year.

For those keen to develop their skills further, we provide dance workshops during school holidays. This is the perfect time to learn new and exciting choreography whilst developing  endurance, teamwork and creativity.