Essentially Dance
Dance stars Darren & Lilia showcase
new dance pilot for schools
Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova will lead the launch of a pilot for a new schools’ initiative for ballroom and Latin American dance, Essentially Dance. Over 400 students from Salford’s Albion High School and Darwen Aldridge Community Academy, along with each of their primary feeders, will join Darren and Lilia at The Lowry on Thursday 22nd January 2009.
Filming/Photography/Interview opportunities
Thurs 22 January, the Studio at The Lowry
9.30am Darren & Lilia perform for Salford schoolchildren
11am Darren & Lilia perform for Darwen schoolchildren
12 midday - Darren & Lilia, Rod Aldridge, Sue Cooper
Please confirm interest in attendance with Michelle Bowey on 0161 876 2037
The stars of BBC Strictly Come Dancing will showcase a dance from the new Essentially Dance programme – which includes the waltz, the cha-cha-cha, the jive and the quickstep, after which the students will have the chance to put their questions to the couple, before Darren and Lilia continue their participation in the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour at the MEN that evening.
Essentially Dance aims to encourage young people to engage in a new form of physical activity, improving health and fitness, contributing to the battle against child obesity. The appeal of this type of dance has increased across the population following the success of Strictly Come Dancing, and provides an opportunity for cross-gender and inter-generational engagement. In addition, it has been shown that it can lead to improved academic performance and optimises learning. It is the first training package for school staff to teach ballroom and Latin American dances to school students, and will include other resources such as booklets CDs and a DVD choreographed by Darren and Lilia.
The Essentially Dance programme has been formed by a partnership of social entrepreneur, Rod Aldridge OBE, Chair of The Aldridge Foundation – funding the pilot schemes – and also of The Lowry, alongside dance professionals Dale Bennett, CEO of City Limits Dancentre in Sheffield, and Lorraine Drolet, a championship winning amateur dancer, and physical education expert Sue Cooper, now National Co-ordinator for Essentially Dance.
Rod said, “I have a passion for encouraging both young people and adults to take up ballroom and Latin American dance – as do the rest of the team behind Essentially Dance. By giving them an activity they can enjoy with their whole family, we can encourage inter-generational engagement while improving fitness.”
Darren and Lilia said, “We are delighted to be giving every child the opportunity to learn to dance like their favourite celebrities on TV, and hopefully inspire the next generation of talented dancers!”
Other pilots of Essentially Dance are also being hosted in Rotherham, Bromley in south London and Falmer near Brighton. Darren and Lilia will lead similar events in each area.
Prior to the scheme being launched nationally in June, Roehampton University will carry out a thorough evaluation of the pilots in Darwen and Falmer. They will look at the impact on the physical activity levels of participants, their social skills and the training, both on teachers and students.
The Lowry is known regionally and nationally for dance
Posted on Monday, 19 January 2009 under Press Community & Education Press