Dozens of schools from across Cumbria are set to take part in the ACE Dance Festival later this month and into March.
The Festival is an annual event organised by Cumbria County Council and brings together pupils from Allerdale, Carlisle, Copeland, Barrow and Eden schools to perform and celebrate their achievements in dance.
Dance is one of the six activity areas of the National Curriculum PE and is studied at all Key Stages.
Pupils from Allerdale will get the Festival underway on Tuesday 26th February when they hit the boards at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick.
Twelve schools are involved, plus newly formed youth dance group VIBE, and performances will range from reception classes to GCSE dance pupils. VIBE will be fresh from the Youth Dance England north-west selection event in Warrington on 24th February which may offer them the chance to be part of the national Youth Dance England Festival in London during July.
The curtain on the Festival’s second show opens on Thursday 28th February at The Sands Centre, Carlisle where more than 300 pupils from schools across Eden will be performing. Eden Breakdance Project, which has been meeting together since last March, will also be giving their first public performance.
Pupils have been working hard during the spring term with their teacher or with the assistance of a dance artist to choreograph their performances. Dance artists bring with them their own dance styles and experiences. All the dance artists are local and have been selected both for their ability to work well with young people and for their creative expertise.
The third show is being held also at The Sands Centre, Carlisle on Friday 29th February when schools from Carlisle will be tripping the light fantastic. Carlisle Breakdance Project whose members have been breaking and hip-hopping together only since September will be sharing their new talent publicly for the first time.
Eight schools from Barrow and DARE Youth Dance will be joining in on Monday 3rd March when they put on the Festival’s fourth performance at Forum 28 in Barrow.
The final show takes place on Friday 7th March when Copeland schools and Copeland Youth Dance Company take the stage at Whitehaven Civic Hall.
In addition to schools taking part in the ACE Dance Festival, The Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal will be hosting its annual Schools Dance Platform from Monday 17th to Wednesday 19th March for pupils in South Lakeland.
Cumbria County Council’s Sport & Physical Education Development Manager, Vanessa Foster said, "The Festival is a great opportunity for our schools to get involved in a countywide initiative and to see what each other is achieving in dance. "
"It’s a unique way to build confidence and self-esteem in our young people, and it’s particularly nice for younger and older children to share a professional stage."
"We’re delighted this year to be featuring some the new youth dance groups that have established themselves across the county over the past 12 months."
Tickets for all performances (except The Brewery) are priced at £4.50 and are available from the respective venue box offices.
ENDS
Media Enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-606337
Notes
There will be photo opportunities during full dress rehearsals on:
•Tuesday 26th February @ Theatre by the Lake between 1-5pm
•Thursday 28th February @ The Sands Centre between 1-5pm
•Friday 28th Februay @ The Sands Centre between 1-5pm
•Monday 3rd March @ Forum 28 between 1-5pm
For further details, contact Lynn Fade (Cumbria Dance Co-ordinator) on 01931 715546 or Vanessa Foster (Cumbria Sport) on 01228-606799.