New Street Dance Classes Get The Seal Of Approval From Primary School Pupils

A fun street dance programme has been successfully piloted in five primary schools in Bridgend County Borough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The highly interactive ‘Dance Tots’ classes have allowed pupils aged three to seven years from Cefn Glas Infants and Litchard, Tondu, Garth and Bynmenyn Primary schools to develop a range of physical, creative and social skills though the medium of street dance. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Established in partnership with renowned street dance company UDO, the unique programme forms part of a range of initiatives by Bridgend County Borough Council’s Active Young People Department (AYPD) to encourage a life-long commitment to physical activity from an early age. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Commenting on the success of the ‘Dance Tots’ scheme, Brynmenyn Primary School’s Reception teacher, Tom Harris said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Here at Brynmenyn Primary School, we feel the ‘Dance Tots’ programme is a brilliant interactive resource that teaches pupils the fundamental skills of PE in a really fun environment. The children have really enjoyed what we’ve shown them so far and we’re looking forward to embedding it fully over the next few weeks.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The ‘Dance Tots’ classes are just one of seven ‘fundamental’ initiatives that the AYPD currently supports schools with across the borough. Aimed at developing movement, creative, personal and social skills within early years school children, the programme also includes other innovative initiatives such as ‘Rugby Tots’, ‘Balance Ability’, ‘Run Jump Throw’ and the ‘Family Active Zone’ – a 10 week after-school programme for families focussing on developing healthy family eating habits, family play and story time. Also in development for September 2017 are ‘Netball Tots’ and ‘Martial Arts’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Praising the AYPD fundamental programme and the ‘Dance Tots’ initiative, Councillor Hailey Townsend, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Future Generations, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s great to see how this fun and innovative dance programme is encouraging our primary school children across the county borough to be more active both during and after school. Alongside physical improvement, the classes are a great way to build confidence and self-esteem from a young age and to motivate our young school children to remain active and continue to make healthy choices in their lives. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The development of fundamental movement skills amongst our early years’ youngsters is a key priority for the AYPD. I am delighted that the ‘fundamental’ programme is providing schools across the borough with such a diverse selection of activities to offer pupils during such a key development phase in their lives.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​