Dancing for Life - News - Wandsworth School Games

Dancing for Life

This year, 17 children from Smallwood Primary School in Tooting, took part in the annual British Red Cross dance competition.  This year it was called ‘Dance for Life’ and was sponsored and supported by Diversity, Winners of Britain’s Got Talent 2009.  The children have spent months working with the school’s dance teacher, Mr Jerry Dawson, to capture the work of the British Red Cross through expressive dance.  Entitled ‘Rewind, Rebuild’, the dance was inspired by the emotions and actions of people before and after a natural disaster, such as the Asian Tsunami. 

Smallwood competed against 5 other schools at The Arts Depot, North London, on the 12th June in one of the many Regional heats held across London.  The children were given an achievement award for their emotive story telling and were also considered overall Junior Champions.  As a result of winning the first round, the children were then entered into the London Finals.  This took place on Sunday, 18th July at the Indigo Room at the O2 Arena in Greenwich.  Smallwood competed against 5 other schools who also had won their heat.  After a very long, but exciting day performing in front of an audience of approximately 900, Smallwood won the overall Junior section of the competition.  The judges acknowledged the children for their conceptual interpretation of illustrating the fantastic work that the British Red Cross does around the world.

Mr Dawson has expressed how proud he is of the children and the hard work and commitment they put into producing this award winning dance. “The children have been given a fantastic opportunity and were honoured to perform in a prestigious venue at such a young age”.

On behalf of Wandsworth School Sport Partnership, congratulations to Smallwood.  We hope many more Wandsworth schools will enter the Dance for Life Competition this year.  Schools should visit www.redcross.org.uk/danceforlife for more information.

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