| Date -09 Jun 2005 | Return to previous page |
Since January, people with an interest in dance have been put through their paces in an intense dance training course. The aim of the Youth Dance Leader in the Community course was to train people with dance or movement experience to a level whereby they could create and sustain dance activities throughout Moray.
Over a period of five months participants took part in five intensive training weekends, where they learnt the principles of working with youth dance. The practically based course also offered participants the chance to take their First Aid training course and a course in Child Protection.
Jeni MacRae, Youth Dance Development Worker and Fiona Hay, Arts Development Worker devised and led the course along with sessions from other dance agencies including Scottish Dance Theatre.
A key element of the course required participants to shadow other dance professionals in and around Moray for a total of 30 hours. The course culminated in an assessment weekend when participants had to plan and run a workshop with a youth group.
Seventeen people signed up for the course, only three withdrew, seven are still in the process of completing their assessment and seven have completed their assessment. Those who have successfully completed the course are Caroline Van Der Heiden, Speyside, Katie Hughes, Forres, Tara Khoury, Edinburgh, Emma Bell, Forres, Margot Loughrie, Findochty, Kirsty Preston, Elgin and Carol Hendry, Speyside.
By training these new dance leaders it will be possible to develop and sustain youth dance in Moray. Already the successful ‘graduates’ are organising and running dance projects across Moray, including three days of workshops in Findochty, Forres and Aberlour from 1 – 3 August.
For more details on Moray Council’s Youth Dance programme contact Jeni MacRae, Youth Dance Development Worker Tel 01343 557144.
Contact: Joyce Pirie, Public Relations Co-ordinator on 01343 563046