Primary School Dance Workshops

West End in Schools offers dance workshops to primary schools using working West End choreographers and dancers with a strong history of working with children.

Whole School Introduction

Each visit can start with a 30 minute introduction to dance session for up to 250 children at a time, in which our dancer demonstrates how movement can be used to tell stories, and introduces the workshops to come. This can be a perfect start to our visit.

This is followed by as many individual workshops as you wish of around 45-60 minutes in length to up to 30 children at a time, based on the chosen theme for the day.

Dance as Storytelling

Our leaders come from the world of musical theatre where dance is used to tell a story, and the thread of storytelling through movement runs through all our workshops.

Our three workshop themes are set out below.

Bringing Books to Life

Dance and movement inspired by Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak is a classic book suitable for all Primary year groups, and indeed for adults as the recent film shows.

Our choreographer will work with each class, developing responses to the book through language, movement and dance.

The children will be inspired to use their imaginations as they address Max's feelings before and after his adventure, the behavoiur and movements of the Wild Things, and atmosphere of adventure. We use a range of techniques and music, and customise each session to suit the interests and age of the children.

Each workshop will conclude with a performance moment, when the children perform aspects of their work to themselves and to their teacher.

For more information or to book please complete our quick enquiry form.

What you need to know

Age range: Reception to Year 6
Location: In your school
Highlights: Fusion of literacy and dance. Enhanced comprehension of the text. Storytelling through movement. Responding to stimuli. Creation of simple dances. Expressing feelings.
Requirements: School hall, mains socket, cups of tea!
Workshop times: Up to 3 hours contact time per morning and 2 hours per afternoon.
Workshop leader: An experienced West End dancer and choreographer with experience of working with children.
Group size: Up to 30 children per session. Larger schools may need multiple days - reduced costs apply.
Accompanying material: Free activity pack for teachers – provided in advance.
Topics: Literacy, storytelling through movement, responding to stimuli, creation of simple dances, expressing of feelings
Price: Morning only - £349; Afternoon only - £249; Full day - £499

Friendship and Teamwork

Dance is a highly collaborative activity - perfect for exploring friendship and teamwork.

Our choreographers work with each class to develop responses to PHSCE themes of friendship, teamwork and co-operation.

We use a range of excercises depending on age, and build up to a performance moment using Toy Story's famous You've Got a Friend in Me for younger children, and for older children I'm a Believer which many know from Shrek.

At the end of the workshop children should have enhanced their experience and understanding of dance as an activity and as a creative process, and developed their understanding of friendship.

For more information or to book please complete our quick enquiry form.

What you need to know

Age range: Reception to Year 6
Location: In your school
Highlights: Development of physical dance skills with West End dancer. Using movement to explore friendship and teamwork.
Requirements: School hall, mains socket, cups of tea!
Workshop times: Up to 3 hours contact time per morning and 2 hours per afternoon.
Workshop leader: An experienced West End dancer and choreographer with experience of working with children.
Group size: Up to 30 children per workshop. Larger schools may need multiple days.
Accompanying material: Free Activity Pack for Teachers – provided in advance
Topics: Storytelling through movement, responding to stimuli, creation of simple dances, teamwork, friendship
Price: Morning only - £349; Afternoon only - £249; Full day - £499.

Mini Musicals

Our West End musical theatre dancers, create tiny productions insprired by classic musicals in just one 45 minute session per class.

We use music from The Lion King with younger children and from Mamma Mia with key stage 2.

The children will develop their individual dance skills, and experience working together as a large team. Children will develop, select and refine a range of motifs in response to the music and put them together as a performance.

The workshop concludes with a mini performance to each other and their class teacher at the end of the session.

For more information or to book please complete our quick enquiry form.

What you need to know

Age range: Reception to Year 6
Location: In your school
Highlights: The whole process of creating and performing a dance piece, compressed in to less than an hour.
Requirements: School hall, mains socket, cups of tea!
Workshop times: Up to 3 hours contact time per morning and 2 hours per afternoon.
Workshop leader: An experienced West End dancer and choreographer with experience of working with children.
Group size: Up to 30 children per workshop. Larger schools may need multiple days.
Accompanying material: Free Activity Pack for Teachers – provided in advance
Topics: Storytelling through movement, basic performance skills, responding to music, creation of simple dances
Price: Morning only - £349; Afternoon only - £249; Full day - £499.