6:40pm Tuesday 15th April 2008
By Staff Reporter
MAKING the leap from primary to secondary school is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
Youngsters from the feeder schools to St Gabriel's RC High recently took part in a dance festival as part of a School Sports Partnership scheme which aims to progress the standards and achievement levels of children in physical education through a range of mediums, including music and dance.
Six schools - Our Lady of Lourdes, St Joseph's and St Bede's, St Marie's, Guardian Angels, all in Bury, Hollymount in Greenmount and St Joseph's in Ramsbottom - took part in the dance festival which was the culmination of a seven-week training programme.
Dance teachers Alex Scott and Romina Sartori worked with teachers from all of the schools in producing a short dance routine.
Each dance was performed to a piece of music that had a theme.
The Year 7 and 8 pupils were then given a further week to work on the dance routines with their individual class teachers in preparation for the festival.
St Gabriel's School sports co-ordinator Mr Darren Handley said: "After last year's success there was a huge demand for another performance and from the evidence of the show it has surpassed the previous festival. It is nights like this that really make my role as a school sports co-ordinator rewarding, especially when the whole school hall was full to capacity with standing room only! The reaction and cheers from the audience also add to the children's enjoyment.
"I was amazed at how much work the children and the staff had put in to the past six to eight weeks to reach such high standards. Each school should be congratulated for contributing to another fantastic evening.
"It just goes to show how much talent children at this age have, given opportunities such as this."
Copies of the show are available to buy. Details are available from Mr Handley on (0161) 764 3186.
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