Sennockian 2018-2019 | Page 47

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. 41