Dance Live! is an exciting event for schools and colleges brought to you by The Guildhall Trust.
With a focus on raising aspirations, strengthening health and wellbeing and developing skills for creative career choices, Dance Live! also delivers a range of supportive workshop opportunities for schools.
Embracing an ever-evolving digital world and how this is changing the face of modern performance, Dance Live! sees those in KS2-4 and Further Education compete with a choreographed, 7-minute, dance routine, set to the backdrop of a large digital screen, which they also create the content for, with pupils showcasing a range of skills from dance, performance and off-stage technical skills to creative design.
“Dance Live has made such a difference to so many of our pupils. For a number of our vulnerable pupils attendance has improved. We brought 2 individuals who are selective mutes and have Autism. Just to see them back stage and being part of the whole event has built their confidence and resilience” – Dance Live! Teacher
In the modern Creative & Cultural Industries, the realms of dance and theatre have wholeheartedly adopted digital technology in all its facets. From harnessing cutting-edge sound and lighting apparatus to innovating the entire creative presentation of a performance, technology has woven itself intricately into every aspect. Enter Dance Live! – a platform that beckons educational institutions to fully embrace the prevailing digital culture. The challenge it extends is for schools to craft a performance primarily rooted in dance or physical theatre, while ingeniously incorporating digital elements. The canvas for creativity is expansive; the goal is to fashion an original piece replete with video and sound, dynamically showcased on a grand LED screen that is 9.6m wide by 5.4m tall.
Dance Live! encompasses much more than the spectacle of performers alone. Our young generation has grappled with myriad trials and transformations over the past few years, spanning the spectrum from the challenges of Covid-19 to the strains of the Cost-of-Living Crisis. Amidst these intricate circumstances, Dance Live! has stood as a sanctuary, a steadfast point of stability for our schools’ young people. It has provided a secure haven and a mooring, facilitating their continuous engagement with education, collaborative artistic endeavours, newfound skills acquisition, and the nurturing of social bonds. In essence, it has been a propeller of mental well-being and a cultivator of resilience.
On a typical Dance Live! event day, schools begin arriving at the venue around lunchtime. We have a welcome and health and safety briefing before schools head to dressing rooms to drop their belongings. Rehearsals begin with each school having up to 25mins to practice their work on the stage – we encourage everyone to watch and support one another where we can! After schools have rehearsed, we run a group warm up with all schools before breaking for dinner.
It’s then showtime! The host will read out your performance bio, your Journey to Dance Live! video will play on the screen while you place your props and performers in their starting positions. Your school will perform and at the end of your routine all performers and stage crew return to the stage to hear the Judge’s feedback – you will only receive positive feedback live from the Judges (any critique will be sent to you in your feedback forms in the days following your event). Your school will head back to your dressing room and, provided there is enough space, a Production Assistant will direct you to audience seating to watch the rest of the show.
At the end of the evening, we will ask for two student representatives and one teacher to return side of stage. You will be given your Creative Achievement Award for the element your school has scored highest in. The host will invite the school representatives onto the stage and the following awards will be given:
The Award Ceremony usually takes around 10mins maximum. Schools are directed back to dressing rooms to collect belongings and will be guided by Production Assistants to exit the building. You can find a full breakdown of Junior and Senior event timings below:
Junior Event: CLICK HERE
Senior Event: CLICK HERE
In the days following your event, lead teachers will be sent Judges Feedback Sheets and a FREE copy of your individual school’s performance video along with an option to purchase your school’s photographs. Dance Live! will provide watermarked photographs on request.