DSC_0271Dance at Harrow Way Community School is an increasingly popular and successful subject. To ensure students have an opportunity to explore the various pathways for dance, a recent Year 10 trip took them to The Point in Eastleigh to attend ‘Careers at the Point,’ a fair aimed at exploring various career paths for professional dancers.

Lyndsey Walker, Curriculum Leader for Dance said: “Harrow Way has a renowned Performing Arts department and dance is a fundamental element of this provision. Students who study dance at BTEC level do so because they are talented and they have a passion for the subject. It is therefore important that we provide the opportunity for them to explore the various pathways, of which there are many, should they decide to study dance at a higher level and/or pursue a career in this area.”

Not only did the Harrow Way students spend time with professional dancers, discussing training and careers but the fair was there to provide additional information and advice. There was also the opportunity to participate in a number of workshops: The National Youth Dance Company worked with the students looking at audition techniques; the Stop Gap Integrated Company ran a session of choreography and the musician Dougie Evans looked at sound scores.

To see just how good the professionals can be, the students were treated to a performance in the main theatre by the National Youth Dance Company and MAP Dance Company.

Lyndsey Walker concludes: “It really was a beneficial day for everyone. Not only have they had training and careers advice from the experts but they have experienced different contemporary techniques, been able to observe and critique professional dance performances and visit a theatre venue which will feed into their BTEC course in year 11. A tick in every box.”