Education and Outreach
Education overview
For children ages 4-11 years
For students ages 11-16 years
GCSE dance students (Faultline)
ALevel and BTec students
Centre of Advanced Training (CAT) students
Dance students in higher education
Community groups
Dance professionals
Education overview >
Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company has a strong reputation for high quality dance education work. We have been delivering participatory projects alongside our touring programme for twenty years.
Our Philosophy
The Company's education programme aims to promote dance practice in the UK, through understanding and appreciation of the dance vocabulary and choreography of Shobana Jeyasingh. Workshops also provide an enriched experience for audience members at the Company's performances around the UK.
What type of dance do we offer in our workshops?
The movement vocabulary is based in contemporary dance (similar to ballet but less formal and more focused on expressive movement) and draws on Indian classical dance - Bharata Natyam and the Indian martial art form of Kalari. But the work also utilises such diverse styles as street dance, Capoeira, ballet and even Flamenco!
Depending on the age of the participants, we approach these techniques in differing ways. With younger children we use story telling and mime, with dance students we introduce the technical language, and with youth groups we draw on the narrative themes of our current productions. In this way we can engage with different groups to the full potential and make our unique style accessible to everyone.
Our Projects
The Company offers a range of dance education activities that run alongside our touring programme, and as stand-alone projects.
- Residencies and mid to long-term projects that usually lead towards the development of short performance pieces
- Tour related workshops (i.e. workshops relating to our touring programme at that time)
- Stand along workshops (out of tour period)
- Post/pre performance talks
- Lectures
- Open rehearsal viewings
Who do we have a heritage of running dance workshops with?
- Primary and secondary schools
- GCSE dance students (Faultline is a set professional work on the AQA GCSE Dance Syllabus) - for more information click here
- ALevel and BTec students
- Centre of Advanced Training (CAT) students
- Dance students in higher education
- Community groups (i.e. youth groups and older adults)
- Dance professionals
For more information, please download our Education Information Pack, and contact Clare Cody-Richardson, Education Assistant: 0207 697 4444 / Email Link
Examples of previous projects
For children ages 4-11 years >
Our workshops for Key Stages 1 and 2 are packed with a range of fun, creative activities that introduce children to the company's work, inspiring them to move creatively, helping the school meet National Curriculum objectives for dance.
All the children were motivated and inspired. Our accompanying teacher was also inspired!
The staff were amazed at how much the children were able to do in their hour session
CASE STUDY: KEY STAGE ONE RESOURCE SURREY
SJDC worked in partnership with the Surrey Local Education Authority to produce a resource for Key Stage 1 teachers that features relevant and accessible dance activities with British-Asian content. In October and November 2005 SJDC's Education Manager and two SJDC Company Dancers travelled to seven infant schools of Surrey's 'COBWEBS' cluster, where we developed and trialled two 6-lesson dance units with over two hundred students and seven teachers. The written resource is accompanied by a DVD and currently benefits Surrey teachers and their Year One and Two students, who often only have access to limited experiences of multi-cultural dance in the classroom. The project created a personalised programme of weekly dance activities for young children, with much input and evaluation from local teachers. SJDC continues to conduct INSET sessions to monitor and support the use of the resource.
For students age 11-16 years>
At Key Stages 3 and 4 we can deliver workshops that will add value to the National Curriculum.
I think we should have more workshops like this! Excellent Tutors CASE STUDY: THE ELEPHANT FESTIVAL - BOURNEMOUTH (2006)
Two company dancers led 30 young people in two days of workshops to create a piece for performance on the main stage at Bournemouth's Elephant Festival in May 2006. The performance was widely attended by the students' families, friends and the local community.
It was very impressive how the dancers managed to engage the young teenagers. CASE STUDY: STATE OF INDEPENDENZ! - UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS and DREAMARTS (2008)
Our 2007 work, Faultline, deals with themes of youth, British Asian identity, and gangs and identity. State of Independenz! was a cross-arts project run by the Widening Participation Unit at University of the Arts, where we worked with student costume designers and hair and makeup artists to develop a full-scale production based on the theme of identity.
We used material and themes from Faultline to develop an original performance for a group of inner-city dancers age 13-16 years. After two months of rehearsals, the project concluded with a performance at Cadogan Hall, London, as part of the Big Dance festival 2008.
For GCSE Dance Students>
Faultline is a set professional work on the AQA GCSE Dance Syllabus. We have developed a comprehensive set of resources for teachers and students, practical workshops and INSET programme to support the inclusion of Faultline in the syllabus.
Click here for more information on resources, workshops and INSET.
ALevel and BTec students>
Navala Chaudhari teaching
an A level group
Year 11 and 12 students studying dance and performance can benefit from our repertory and technique workshops, helping students explore approaches to choreography that will assist them in their own development of pieces for their course.
Our boys were genuinely thrilled to have the opportunity to watch and work with members of the Dance Company. Our thanks,
the presentation to over 200 of our youngest boys was terrific.
CASE STUDY: ESHER PARTNER SCHOOLS PROJECT(2007)
As part of a project with seven partner schools, company dancers and guest musicians worked with a small A level dance group. During four days of Cunningham-based technique class, repertory and creative workshops we devised a new creative piece that was performed to celebrate the launch of Esher C of E High School's new theatre in January 2007.
Centre of Advanced Training (CAT) Students>
CASE STUDY: LABAN CAT PROJECT - Re:mix (2009)
Laban commissioned Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company to create Re:mix with the CAT students, for a performance at the Bonnie Bird Theatre, 12 July 2009 and other platforms. Overseen artistically by Shobana, company dancers worked with the CAT students over a six week period. Re: mix was made using creative tasks and influences from the company repertory. These were used to generate creative movement from the CAT dancers under company direction and guidance. Re: mix reflects the diversity of influences and inventiveness that the CAT dancers brought to the studio.
Feedback from the Laban CAT student participants:
I think that creative tasks are quite challenging but good because it encourages us to get out of our comfort zone
It made me realise I can move in different and unusual ways It was awesome! Higher Education>
Yamuna Devi
teaches repertory
Our Company has worked with a number of vocational schools, colleges and universities and been commissioned to develop work with graduate dance companies across the country.
Sensitively led and worked with the needs of the group. It was a great example of partnerships too so that students could see
how to get a company in to provide the starting point.
CASE STUDY: VERVE COMMISSION (2006/2007)
Students from VERVE, the graduate company of Northern School of Contemporary Dance.
In 2006/7 Shobana Jeyasingh spent time in Leeds working with the talented post-graduate performers of VERVE, the graduate company of Northern School of Contemporary Dance.
With a cast of eleven dancers, Shobana created Forfeit, which toured throughout 2007 both nationally and internationally.
CASE STUDY: 2STEP - A CITY OF LONDON COMMISSION (2008)
Students from Laban, London Contemporary Dance School and Central School of Ballet.
Between February and August in 2008, Shobana worked with twenty second-year students from three vocational dance schools across London to create a site-specific work for the steps of St Paul's Cathedral. This ambitious project saw dancers from different vocational trainings come together to develop a new piece for performance and to learn about Shobana's choreographic style as well as about each other and their schools. The project ended with six performances at St Paul's, firstly during Big Dance in July, then at Out of the Blocks, a City festival to mark the Olympic Handover from Beijing to London.
Now when I watch Shobana's work I can see the process that she and the dancers went through to arrive at the finished product.
Community groups>
Our community projects involve working with youth groups to 50+ groups, introducing people to our work, contemporary dance and Baratha Natyam.
CASE STUDY : ARTSDEPOT (2007)
Artsdepot in North Finchley, a theatre we perform at regularly, booked several workshops to support our last production there in January 2007. Company dancers took workshops with the venue's regular 50+ group, also working with a primary school and a local university group.
Dance professionals>
Company class
During rehearsal periods, we open our company class to dance professionals to attend.
Led by our rehearsal director, the class rotates its content between contemporary, ballet and Bharatanatyam.
If you are interested in attending, please email your CV to Clare Cody-Richardson
Masterclasses
SJDC holds public master classes for dance professionals in central London locations. Dancers with both contemporary and Bharatanatyam backgrounds can take class and learn current company repertory with company dancers.
A totally new genre of contemporary dance added to my experience. Very intricate, intense style - I found it a great exercise for the legs!
For more information about this programme, please contact Clare Cody-Richardson
Contact Information>
Please email Clare Cody-Richardson, Education Assistant with enquiries and for further information about the education programmes or call 020 7697 4444.
