National Summer School
2003 ---> News Summary & Photographs
2008
- August 18 - 22
2009 - August 24 - 28
The National Summer School is a week of activities based on European Countries. The children are divided into groups according to age and each group studies a particular country with their own teacher all week. Some of the time is spent dancing and the rest is spent learning about the customs, location, food, costumes, music, etc. of the country, through worksheets, games, cooking, songs, stories and drama.
At the end of the week an examiner from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing visits the school. The "exam" is one of the stages leading to Bronze, Silver or Gold medal Folk Dance Study. It consists of the children showing the examiner all the project work they have done over the week, letting her taste their cooking, having a chat about the country they have studied and showing her, as a group, 3 or 4 of the dances they have learnt that week. The final day culminates with a display for the parents in the afternoon and a chance to see all the work done during the week.
By the time Gold medal is awarded, 12 European countries will have been studied. It is not necessary to be a member of the National Classes to come to Summer School - it is open to everyone. It is suitable for all ages as the dances are chosen by me to suit the age and ability of the group.