Random Dance Project

Wayne McGregor’s Random Dance brought their innovative and exciting style of education work into Churchfields School, Commonweal School and New College throughout September and October. The dance specialist teacher from each school/college took part in an INSET training session which introduced them to a programme of remote location workshops, recorded by Random Dance education team.

Facilitated in each school by the specialist dance teacher, the students had the opportunity to interact with Random Dance through a DVD resource which included a Random dancer leading contemporary dance classes and choreographic tasks based on the development of the company’s touring production Entity. Students utilised these choreographic tasks to create sections of material which were structured and rehearsed by a visiting Random dancer.

This inspirational and unique education project culminated in a performance of the students’ work at Swindon Dance on Thursday 9th October. Students then watched Random Dance’s performance of Entity at the Wyvern Theatre on Monday 13th October 2008 where Wayne McGregor held a post show talk.

Wayne McGregor is the patron of Swindon Dance’s flagship youth group, Swindon Youth Dance Company (SYDCo) which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2007. SYDCo has gone from strength to strength throughout the last 10 years and many of the ex members are now professional dancers – with careers in companies such as Rambert Dance Company – or are training professionally.

SYDCo is auditioned annually and the 2008/09 company will perform new works from Helen Ganberg, Artistic Director, SYDCo and Yael Flexer, Artistic Director, Bedlam Dance Company.

Ten Year ten GCSE Dance students at Commonweal took part in this exciting scheme.
“This project enabled students starting their GCSE Dance course to work with professional dancers. The students have responded really well, producing some fantastic work,” said dance teacher, Mrs Harman.