The Arts in Schools - Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

the pupils are encouraged to become involved.Through the local arts association, the College Community Staff and thelocal education drama advisory service and the commitment and voluntarywork of school drama staff it has been possible to build up a network of12 junior drama groups, senior drama groups and youth theatres covering thewhole of the area with funding coming from the Local Education Authority,the Borough Council and the Regional Arts Association (via the local artsassociation). All of these although 'School' based are community groups andform a natural link between school and community and a bridge so thatstudents do not have to make a break on leaving school.When the local arts association promotes performance by small scaleprofessional drama and dance groups it negotiates daytime workshops forschools within the fee. These are often at only a marginal extra charge tothe arts association but are highly valued by the schools in the area.2 The Manchester Dance CentreThe Manchester Dance Centre came into being in January 1979 and wasbased in the hall at Plymouth Grove Primary School. It operated thereuntil September 1979 when it moved to larger premises in the formerMather College of Education. The accommodation consists of a large hall,a studio with mirrors, a changing/common room, a library/classroom and anoffice and various store-rooms. The Centre comes under the aegis of theManchester Inspectorate and has a full-time Dance Leader based there,assisted by visiting lecturers and Manchester school teachers.The aim of the Dance Centre is to give as many Manchester schoolchildrenas possible the opportunity to study dance, to immerse them in the atmosphereof the Centre for a whole week and also to refresh and give new ideasto the teaching staff who come with the children. The children come to theCentre for a week with their own dance teacher from school. The averageclass size is 30. The schools select the pupils they wish to send and thechildren are often selected for their interest in dance rather than theirdancing ability. The class teacher shares the teaching with the Dance Leaderand also helps with supervision during break and lunchtime. Each pupil isrequired to have a school meal to ensure that she is able to complete therigorous timetable.The pupils make their own way to the Dance Centre for 9.00 am andmake their own way home at the end of the afternoon. No transport isprovided and they pay their own fares. Practical sessions are interspersedby periods spent in the classroom, where work may be done on CSE projects,dance diaries or creative writing and art work. At some point duringeach week the pupils are videoed and they are able to assess their ownperformance.Two weeks before the visit to the Dance Centre the leader and the teachertogether discuss and plan the programme.Each week ESN(S) children spend one and a half hours working with thegroup in the Centre. Visiting lecturers give practical sessions and studentsfrom colleges of Higher Education visit to talk to the children and sometimes149