Kesgrave High Show will tomorrow be putting on its first big show in five years, as it bids farewell to a long-running dance teacher and helps raise money for the department.
The show, which features a first performance tomorrow night and a second show on Thursday, features more than 120 children across all year groups performing routines on the theme of a night at the movies – with Blade, Avatar, Pirates of the Caribbean and Chicago among the classic films to be given the dance treatment.
The school then comes together for a horror-themed finale, with teachers at the school also getting involved in their own unique routine.
The school’s productions are normally a one-night only show, sometimes with fewer pupils, but staff wanted to go all out for a special show in honour of dance teacher Caryl Hudson, who is leaving after more than a decade teaching.
Assistant headteacher and dance show co-ordinator Lynsey Warfield said: “We wanted to send her off with a little bit of a bang – her creativity, passion and enthusiasm will be sorely missed.”
But remarkably, the show also helps the dance department fund workshops, which Miss Warfield said had become increasingly important in light of funding cuts for schools.
“Since schools are finding it more difficult with funding it’s a great way to create revenue which means I can fund workshops and costumes,” she said.
“Two shows, if we sell out, creates about £3,000 of funding, and after production, costumes and everything else creates about £1,000 you can put back into the department.
“That funds those extra opportunities we wouldn’t have otherwise.”
Rachel Laudrum, trainee dance teacher at the school said preparations had been ongoing since the final week before the February half term, and provided an opportunity for younger students as well as GCSE and A-level dance students.
She added: “It gives them something exciting to do – throughout years seven and eight they have dance in their PE lessons but this gives access to all years, and they like the opportunity to do more of it.”
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