UK dance company visits Jersey primary schools

Children aged seven and eight at Springfield school set their choreography around the theme of the sea

A professional dance company visiting Jersey said it aims to share its "unique approach to choreography" with primary school pupils.

Casson and Friends, a UK-based dance theatre company, has visited Grands Vaux, Rouge Bouillon, D'Auvergne, and Springfield schools.

The company was invited by Arthouse Jersey and said it invited children aged between three and 11 to "use movement and actions to help devise original dance routines".

Speaking at Springfield Primary School, company director Tim Casson said the children have different ideas which "demonstrates their creativity".

Director of Casson and Friends Tim Casson said they were working with primary school pupils in Jersey

"We came here with no dance moves, but we have to have a performance at the end of the day, so we have been working with the children to create some moves with them that we’re going to perform back to them at the end of the day," he said.

"The lovely thing is all the children have different ideas. One child might have a sea that goes side to side or it might be a massive waves so there is so many ways the young people can interpret the sea.

"It demonstrates their creativity, we’re just here to collect it."

He said it was also a "lovely moment" for the children when they see their dance moves in the performance.

The children said they enjoyed the experience

Dylan said his "favourite part was called 'up, over and around'" while fellow eight-year-old Lena said "we did lots of stuff about the ocean like the waves go like this and the crabs go like this".

Leonor, 7, added "it felt good but I'm very tired" and Jay, 7, confirmed "we made dance moves like the sea".

Producer of Arthouse Jersey Robyn Cabaret said all ages from foundation years to key stage 2 have been working together

Producer of Arthouse Jersey Robyn Cabaret said she had seen this work in other contexts such as festivals and parks but not in an educational setting.

She said she was "excited to what would happen".

"At Grands Vaux, we worked with foundation year all the way through to end of key stage 2," said Ms Cabaret.

"I think there’s something in this unity of all the different pupils coming together in something that is so unique just for them."