Schools
balletLORENT holds at its heart a strong commitment to offering high quality dance experiences to as wide a range of people as possible, through creating diverse and inclusive work for all ages and by designing complementary learning and participation programmes to support each of our productions.
We deliver bespoke workshops, usually themed around our fairytale performance work, which can be tailored to suit any age range and can also complement specific curriculum guidelines. Participants are encouraged to explore different movement styles and respond creatively to choreographic activities.
Our Digital Greetings are offered prior to company visits as a means to introduce children to the work of the company, and break the ice before our in person workshops. These are available as live sessions with our Creative Partners on Zoom or Skype.
Teaching Resource Packs are available for each new production, providing background information, video clips, and dance exercises and workshop development ideas.
I felt happy. When you are angry and you do balletLORENT, then it calms you down.
Child Participant, Westgate Hill Primary
It was great to see the children developing creatively outside a classroom environment - I'm a firm believer opportunities like the ones you have given our children help to cultivate love and passion towards the arts, whilst allowing children to additionally develop skills that they would not essentially discover being confined solely to a table and a chair in a classroom!
Teacher, Central Walker CE Primary, Newcastle
[The best thing about the workshops was] seeing the children engage in something different and really 'letting themselves go'.
Teacher, St Paul’s CE Primary, Newcastle
A short film about our Snow White workshops, which we took into schools in 2014
School Screenings and Workshops
Our new film adaption of our latest family production, The Lost Happy Endings, and our 2017 production of Rumpelstiltskin are now available to view on Marquee TV, with subscription options available for education settings.
Example Workshops:
Creative Workshops for School Groups aged 6-11yrs
With a focus on play and creativity, these workshops will introduce children to dance and the repertoire of balletLORENT. The dance workshop may include learning new movement skills, partner skills and creative tasks devised from the themes of the current fairytale production. With story-telling a strong element of balletLORENT’s work, children are encouraged to incorporate their own tales and ideas into the session. As well as developing physical and creative skills, the workshops are designed to build confidence, self-esteem, and trust amongst the participants.
Creative Workshops for School Groups aged 12-16yrs
As an introduction to contemporary dance and the performance work of balletLORENT, the dance workshop may include learning new movement skills, partner skills and creative tasks devised from the themes from our current productions. Pupils will be given the tools to develop and perform taught movement material. As well as developing physical and creative skills, the workshops are designed to build confidence, self-esteem, and trust amongst the participants. Pupils will be encouraged to participate in discussion and feedback sessions throughout the workshop.
balletLORENT is an Arts Award Centre, delivering Discover and Explore Arts Award to children involved with our Participation and Performance Programmes, and Discover in a Day projects. Our Arts Award offer is available for schools, communities and individuals. All children who complete the award receive a certificate from Trinity College, London, and are able to progress to higher level awards.
Over 900 children and young people have completed Arts Award through their participation in balletLORENT activity.
balletLORENT is proud to be an Artsmark Partner, supporting schools and education settings on their Artsmark journey, inspiring children and young people to create, experience, and participate in great arts and culture.
Artsmark is the creative quality standard for schools and education settings, awarded by Arts Council England, recognising their commitment to high quality arts and cultural education.
To find out how balletLORENT can support your school’s Artsmark journey, email james@balletlorent.com
For more information about the opportunities on offer for schools, or to book workshops, and how you can take part, email james@balletlorent.com or call 0191 233 1811
We thank Friends of balletLORENT Maureen Newall, Joanne McKenna, Anna Story and Karen Trewinnard; Good Friends Heather Crompton, and Kate Lorent for their continued support of the company. You can support balletLORENT here.