Ballet on the curriculum in Barnsley

Free workshops around Barnsley saw pupils from Hope House and Joseph Locke Primary School, and special education schools Greenacre and North Ridge Community, learning dance steps and creative movement, while learning the story behind the ballet.

Debbie Lunn, Personalised Communication Lead from Greenacre School said: “Pupils really enjoyed taking part in the Northern Ballet workshop. The session was pitched well for our pupils, and the activities were adapted appropriately so that the needs of all our pupils were met.

“All pupils were fully engaged and on task from beginning to end, which is often quite a challenge for some of our learners!”

The workshops took place at each individual school and were delivered as part of Northern Ballet’s ‘Short Ballets for Small People’ initiative; to introduce children and their families to ballet and the theatre for the first time.

Barnsley’s Civic Theatre hosted the latest production in the Northern Ballet Company’s award-winning series for the younger audience, following on from the earlier successes of The Ugly Duckling, Three Little Pigs and The Elves and the Shoemaker.

Helen Ball Chief Executive at The Civic, Barnsley said: “We’re always pleased to work with and programme works by Northern Ballet at The Civic. Their free workshops allow us the invaluable opportunity to inspire children in our community with dance and theatre, directly in their school. And, their shows enable children and their families to enjoy wonderful live performances designed especially for them, in their local theatre.”