Let's put on a show - we've got a week!
YOUNGSTERS in Brighouse are dancing themselves dizzy this summer in a bid to put on a show – in a week!
Over the past four years, dance teacher Liz Scattergood's summer workshops have become so popular with local children that parents now organise their holidays around them.
"As soon as Christmas is out of the way, I get parents ringing me up asking me when the workshops are going to be held so they can book their holidays," said 24-year-old Liz. "I put on the workshops for two weeks each year and they're always popular."
A total of 60 children, aged from five to 11, are taking part in this year's dance workshop at St Chad's Church, Hove Edge, and they have been busy rehearsing for their version of 'Wild Wild West' for friends and family.
"We start from scratch on Monday mornings with just my ideas and a script and by the end of Friday, we have a show," said Liz. "The children do everything, from making the costumes and the scenery to acting, dancing and singing."
Liz started the Abinitio Dance School in 2005 and teaches dance in primary schools in the Brighouse area as well as holding ballet, tap and street jazz and hip hop classes for children and adults in the sports centre at Hipperholme and Lightcliffe High School. "Through my work with children, I realised there was a need for summer holiday activities in this area and the response to the first workshop was so positive that they have now become annual events. They are hard work but a lot of fun."
In the first year the children presented 'The Legends of Yorkshire' and other shows have included 'It's a Discovery', based on the story of Captain Cook', and 'A Trip to Hollywood'. Over the past three years the shows have raised more than 2,000 for St Chad's Church funds.
"All the children have a go at something to do with the show – we let them choose what they want to do.
"It's great to see them develop and grow in confidence over the course of the week."
This year's show 'The Wild Wild West' has a score which includes songs by Will Smith, 'Rawhide' by Frankie Laine and the Can-Can. "It's very lively and colourful and the children do really well to learn it all in a week," said Liz.
"Hopefully, over the course of the week, they have made new friends, grown in confidence and learned new skills."
Liz is a firm believer in the value of dance as a means of exercise and is pleased that her dance school has now become so well-established. "I have 120 students each week doing a variety of classes. I think people realise that dancing is a more pleasant and sociable way to keep fit than going to the gym. I introduced street dance classes last September and they have really taken off. My students can take exams through the International Dance Teachers' Association - they are optional but there is a great sense of achievement if the students do well."
From August 24 to 26, Liz is holding a street dance workshop in conjunction with Calderdale Council and from September she is starting classes for three-five year olds on Saturday mornings.
Dance fact file
The Central Council for Physical Recreation says more than five million people in the UK are involved in a form of dance activity.
Dance is part of the National Curriculum and can be studied at further education and degree level incluing MA and PhD levels.
The Abinitio School of Dance holds classes for children and adults at Hipperholme and Lightcliffe High School's sports centre on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Saturday classes for three to five year olds are due to start in September.
Liz is holding a three-day street dance workshop from August 24 to 26. Classes for six to nine-year-olds will be held from 10.30am to 12.30pm and for 10 to 15-year-olds from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Contact Scattdance@hotmail.com or call 07970 796583.
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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