About DanceSEN
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A Tailored Approach
Rather than give a ‘one size fits all’ dance package, my goal is to collaborate with each school to devise dance sessions to meet the needs of each class group - I know that no two SEN classes are the same! This process begins during first contact with you. "What do you want your pupils to achieve and experience in dance?"
The dance sessions can take a variety of forms depending on the desired goal. We can go on a choreographic journey where a unique dance piece is co-created, building to a performance. The school might have a theme they want to explore creatively, such as travel, history, or animals.
For complex and autism specific groups the focus would be on exploring and expanding movements they naturally bring to the sessions, drawing on my dance movement therapy background to reflect and extend their movement repertoire. Progression will occur according to my observations and experiences of the pupils' engagement patterns.
I would establish a consistent and clear structure, enabling autistic pupils access to sessions otherwise locked to them. Engaging them in expressive movement through song, music and sensory items.
Most of all I want to share my energy and passion for dance with those children who can thrive on an opportunity to express themselves through movement. I believe that all children have innate and valid creativity.
My dance background
My dance has evolved over the decades through my love of Egyptian and African - Caribbean dances. I don't normally teach specific dance styles, but allow the rhythms and fluidity of these dances to inform how I move and how I engage others in movement.
My love of dance began as a teenager with Raqs Sharqi and Afro-Caribbean dances. I have studied Hilal Dance (contemporary eastern dance) since 2001, which led me to travel regularly to London, Paris, Milan, Florence and Dusseldorf for classes, workshops and summer schools. During those years, and up to the present, I have practised African Holistic Dance; performing regularly with Wedeyah at Birmingham venues such as Aston Hall for Jamaica 60, Legacy (The Drum), Symphony Hall for Jamaica 50, Centenary Square for Birmingham Festival B23 and at various private functions over the years.
I absolutely loved my dance degree at Coventry, where I mainly studied Release Contemporary and community dance. Also, I greatly desired to train in Dance Movement Therapy and from this journey I gained a deeper understanding of the mind-body connection in movement and the power of dance as a facilitator of personal growth. From there I felt it was important for my professional development to gain QTS in dance, I sort Calthorpe Academy as my place of mentorship as I wanted to train within an SEN school dance department.
Over the years I have consistently worked in SEN schools as both class teacher, teaching assistant and supply. Throughout this time I have created opportunities to engage children in dance by teaching dance in PE, leading dance workshops on themed days, as well as class based dance / movement and fitness sessions. One of the most important techniques I have learnt over time is to engage autistic children through consistent structure and key words - which I have successfully incorporated into my dance teaching style for those young people.
My Dance Qualifications
BA Dance & Professional Practice, Coventry University 2002-2005
MA Dance Movement Therapy, Roehampton University London 2007-2010.
GTP Dance* (Graduate Teacher Training Programme) Newman University Birmingham 2012 - 2013. Trained at Calthorpe Academy, special education school.
* My TRN will be given where requested.
I subscribe to the annual DBS update service.
Contact Anna
Booking information
I'm available for termly bookings and theme days during school hours Monday to Friday, at £150 per day, or £30 per hour. Also available for holiday club dance sessions. Contract of obligations must be signed prior to the commencement of my work at your school.
Telephone or email communication hours
Open today | 09:00 am – 06:00 pm |
