Historic Dance Schools Education Workshop
16th January 2023
We continued our education partnership with Graveney School, Tooting, London with a historic dance education workshop led by world-renowned historic dance experts Mary Collins and Steven Player.
Students aged 11-14 learned about, and experienced, the history of dance as a cultural form of expression, enjoyment, communication, social interaction and wellbeing.
They danced a Minuet by Ignatius Sancho and the Schomberg Galop by Charles d’Albert
Student Feedback
What did you enjoy most about the experience?
“The learning about historic dances and their meanings”
“Performing the dances as a group”
“The dances (gallops and minuet) and the music played to accompany it”
“Learning the dances”
“I enjoyed learning about the history of the dances and the music.”
“Learning the ballroom dances”
What was the most interesting thing (or things) that you learned during the workshop?
“The instruments’ origins – flute and harpsichord – were very interesting”
“How dances could be notated on sheets of paper”
“What a baroque flute looks like, types of dances, how dances used to be recorded, the evolving of ballroom dancing”
“How to bow and curtsy”
“That dancing was taught to men from a young age and was necessary to be part of society.”
“The way dances evolved throughout time”
Did dancing teach you anything that will help you when playing your instrument?
“It helped the rhythm I need to use when playing the Piano”
“Rhythm, to know why certain dance-like pieces were written and show it through the playing”
“Yes, rhythm and speed”
“It taught me to listen to the pulse more.”
Are there any skills you learned that you’ll be able to use in everyday life?
“It definitely helped with my balance””
“Don’t be worried about looking silly in front of others”
“Confidence without the fear of embarrassment and following given steps”
“Better communication skills”
Has the workshop inspired you in any way?
“Yes, I’d like to study/learn more of the dances we don’t dance anymore but were very popular in the past.”
“To try new things”
How did dancing make you feel?
“Joyful”
“Happy and proud”
“Happy and confident”
“Happy and carefree (it was really fun)”
“It made me feel excited to learn.”
“Happy”
If you had to describe this workshop to someone how would you do this?
“I would describe it as an interesting workshop where you learn about the origins of dance and historical dance steps.”
“A workshop where we got to learn and watch examples of historical dances and perform them as groups”
“A very entertaining way of boosting confidence and musicality through fun dances.”
“It’s very fun because you learnt how to dance in the olden days”
“A fun opportunity to learn the history of dance along with the music of the time.”
“A great experience; a chance to move about and learn a bit about some dances and where they came from”
Anything else you’d like to let us know?
“Thank you for organising this trip for us!”
“I would recommend this for future year 7, 8 and 9’s at Graveney”
The Vauxhall Band provides education opportunities to young people and adults. If your organisation would like to take part in a music or dance workshop please contact Artistic Director Laura Piras here: