The 2019 Dance Show was a highlight of the year
and being part of the organising committee made
it an even more special event for us. As avid dancers
and performers ourselves, we aimed to make it
not only a memorable and enjoyable event for the
audience, but also for all the performers.
Opening the show with a powerful and fierce jazz
number and closing with a succession of heartfelt
contemporary pieces, eight students from Years 7, 8,
10 and 12 were able to showcase a range of styles
to appeal to everyone in the audience. Many of the
pieces were self-choreographed by their performers,
from Tanaya Vohra performing hip-hop to classical
ballet to lyrical solos by Meghan Watson and Esmé
Tung and duets, such as the performance to ‘In My
Blood’ by Anar Shah and Jemima Helm (of Weald
Grammar, Sevenoaks). We were also incredibly
fortunate to receive help from dance teacher
Chantelle Poole who runs the school’s lyrical and
jazz dance classes. She choreographed all of our large
group pieces in a variety of genres including jazz,
contemporary and musical theatre, featuring the
youngest dancers in the school from Year 7 to the
oldest dancers in the Lower Sixth.
It was a huge undertaking to gather all of the acts,
and contact dancers and singers from all different year
groups and disciplines. On top of this was the business
of organising rehearsals, creating the programme
and sorting out technical difficulties on the night.
Being able to watch from the wings was therefore
a genuinely heart-warming experience.
Ending this incredible journey by performing on stage
to an audience entirely receptive to both the art and
athleticism of dance will hopefully be an experience
we are able to recreate in the future – not only for us,
but for the growing dance community in Sevenoaks.
Our additional aim for hosting the Dance Show
was to raise £1000 for Dance Aid, a charity which
encourages people to dance to make a difference. We
exceeded our target, raising £1100 for disadvantaged
children across the world.
Esmé Tung and Anar Shah (Lower Sixth)
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2018-2019
Dance Show: See also inside back cover.
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