The Royal Ballet School’s primarySTEPS initiative is celebrating its fifth year by the opening of a new centre in Mansfield. This brings the total number of primarySTEPS centres to five including Dagenham, Blackpool, Swindon and Bury St Edmonds.

Run by The Royal Ballet School’s Dance Partnership & Access Programme, primarySTEPS is designed to engage with children aged 7-8. primarySTEPS is run in primary schools throughout England in areas where many children have not experienced ballet before. The workshops are created in order to introduce children to dance and share with them the resources of The Royal Ballet School. The children will be put through their paces, learning the basic elements of ballet - including how to turn, stretch and jump like a dancer.

In each of the centres, children will also watch a demonstration by students of The Royal Ballet School. This is a rare opportunity to see first hand the athleticism and artistry of a real ballet student. The pupils are also encouraged to experience the positions and movements of ballet for themselves.

Manager of The Royal Ballet School’s Dance Partnership and Access Programme, Ginny Brown says:

‘We are delighted that, through primarySTEPS, we can provide a memorable introduction to ballet for so many children. We are thrilled to be extending the national spread of our work by establishing a fifth centre in Mansfield this year. This builds on our local partnership with The Manor School and Dance 4, with whom we have been working since 2009’


Primary STEPS Autumn 2010 diary dates below:

DAGENHAM

Friday 1 October
Dagenham Park Church of England School
Schools participating: William Ford, Godwin, Marsh Green, John Perry, Beam


BLACKPOOL

Thursday 7 October
Globe Theatre, Pleasure Beach, Blackpool.
Schools participating: Devonshire, Anchorsholme, Bispham Endowned, Revoe, Layton.


SWINDON

Thursday 14 October
Swindon Dance, Regent Circus, Swindon
Schools participating: Drove, Lawn, Lainesmead, Mountford Manor, King William Street and Oak Tree.


MANSFIELD

Thursday 21 October
The Manor School, Mansfield
Schools participating: Peafield Lane, St Edmunds, Robin Hood, Northfield, Leas Park


BURY ST EDMUNDS

Friday 5 November
King Edward VI School, Bury St Edmunds
Schools participating: Howard, Guildhall Feoffment, Sextons Manor, Westgate, Tollgate and Hardwick.


For further information, please contact
Jim Fletcher,Development Manager, The Royal Ballet School.
Tel: 020 7845 7074
Mob: 07768 455667
email: jimf@royalballetschool.co.uk