Easter Courses 2006

This April the Learning and Access Department held two very successful and enjoyable Easter Courses for young people in Leeds. Below are reviews and photos from the courses.

Easter Course 2006

“It’s a fab experience and I recommend anyone to do it!” – participant

This year Northern Ballet Theatre’s Easter Course took the music of Gershwin as it’s inspiration. 50 young people, between the ages of 9 and 16, took part in the 4 day course working with NBT’s Dance Education Officers, Sophie Alder and Caroline Burn, and composer Kate Pearson developing dance and singing skills. The focus was to explore the relationship between music and dance and how the two could be integrated in different ways.

Over the course the participants worked on dance technique, choreography, singing technique and composition resulting in a performance for friends and parents on the last afternoon. This was warmly received and included Gershwin songs, spirituals, dances to Gershwin’s preludes and the students own vocal/movement compositions. Much fun and enjoyment was had by students and teachers alike with some impressive work being achieved.

VIP Easter Course

Following on from last years successful summer course and Family fun days, NBT hosted a three-day family Easter course for young people with visual impairments and their families at St Chad’s Community Centre, Headingley. The course set off on a journey exploring where our imaginations will take us if we hear unusual sounds and can place them anywhere. The music and sound effects provided by Richard Kenwood Herriot inspired some creative and imaginative responses, from Soaring over a chocolate fairground in a space ship to Building a gigantic toy making machine where the magic fairy turned all involved in to dancing toys! It sounds surreal, but a good time was had by all. It gave families the opportunity to use imagination and contribute creative ideas, work as part of a team and have fun expressing their ideas through dance.

The course was led by Caroline Burn Dance Education officer. For more information on future work and integrated projects contact caroline.burn@northernballettheatre.co.uk

“I was impressed with the sequences and movements that Jacob was able to remember and thought the way these were taught (repetition, stories, encouraging people to make-up their own movements) worked really well”
One participant physiotherapist commenting after taking part in last day of course