Member Article

TINY DANCERS DREAM BIG WITH DISNEY ON ICE

Pupils show they are Fit to Dance!

Gateshead school pupils have taken part in a dance showcase competition to win tickets to a brand-new Disney On Ice extravaganza that arrives on Tyneside this autumn.

Disney On Ice presents Dream Big plays at the Metro Radio Arena from 2-7 October, and one lucky class of Gateshead school pupils have walked away with tickets to this spectacular new ice show, where, for the first time in Europe, audiences will join fearless wayfinder Moana and demigod Maui, on an action-packed voyage to restore the stolen heart of Te Fiti. The production is a spectacular show bursting with the much-loved Disney stars Rapunzel, Anna, Elsa, Jasmine, Ariel, Aurora, Belle and Cinderella, showcasing their strength, bravery and kindness that inspires generation after generation.

Earlier this year, more than 2,600 children took part in The Gateshead Schools Dance Festival, organised by Gateshead School Sport Partnership (GSSP) and supported by Disney On Ice Fit to Dance, an initiative that inspires creative storytelling and physical education for children in primary schools, developed in line with the national curriculum.

Following the success of the two-day event at Sage Gateshead, that was attended by over 6,000 spectators, schools were invited to submit videos of their own Disney inspired creative dances and eight classes were shortlisted to take part in a dance-off at intu Metrocentre.

Pupils from St Anne’s Catholic Primary, Chopwell Primary, Kibblesworth Academy, St Peter’s RC Primary and Whickham Parochial School performed their own original dances, inspired by the magic of Disney On Ice.

Voted for by fellow competitors on the day, one lucky group of performers danced away with the main prize, family tickets for every participant to see Disney On Ice presents Dream Big at the Metro Radio Arena in October.

The winning school, was Kibblesworth Academy, who performed a mash up of songs under the theme of ‘determination.’

Year 6 teacher and dance club leader Laura Breheny said:

“Our pupils have really enjoyed preparing for this performance, and all completely embraced the theme of determination! As we have been very busy preparing for exams, rehearsing the dance has been a great stress reliever. We are all totally thrilled to have won tickets to see Disney On Ice presents Dream Big, and would like to congratulate all of the other dance groups who put on amazing performances.”

The team from Whickham Parochial school peformed to ‘Dig a little deeper’ from The Princess and the Frog, and 11 year old dancer Cara Baxter explained:

“It was really thrilling to watch all of the dances today, and we really enjoyed performing our dance which was inspired by our love of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse as well as movement inspired by lyrics. It was such a great day, and everyone is really looking forward to when Disney On Ice comes to town.”

Alex Perkins from Gateshead School Sport Partnership added:

“Congratulations to all of today’s competitors, who have delivered amazing performances and kept intu Metrocentre shoppers entertained too! It’s true to say that everyone is a winner today; each school has received a suitably themed Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse trophy as a lasting memento of a great event and a thank you to all of the plucky participants!”

Councillor Gary Haley, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Gateshead Council said:

“It’s a delight to see so many schools willing to participate in this fantastic initiative that gives children the opportunity to use their imagination by choreographing their own dance routines, improve their health by keeping their heart rates up, boost their confidence and performance skills – and having such great fun while doing it!”

Steven Armstrong, Vice President Northern Europe, Feld Entertainment, producers of Disney On Ice, said:

“It was an absolute pleasure for us to partner with this amazing dance festival, and the subsequent competition at intu Metrocentre. As with Disney On Ice Fit to Dance, it’s encouraging children to get fit and active through dance and storytelling. The Fit to Dance programme reflects what happens in Disney On Ice shows, where writing teams create great stories and choreography teams translate them into fantastic dances on the ice. Fit to Dance enables young people to do exactly this with their school friends or even in their own homes, and there’s plenty of support and inspiration online. We’re also delighted to inspire a new outreach programme enabling schools to create their own Fit to Dance routines, alongside a competition to win tickets to Disney On Ice presents Dream Big.”

For more information about Fit to Dance, go to: http://www.fit-to-dance.com/

Disney On Ice presents Dream Big Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle upon Tyne 2 – 7 October 2018 www.metroradioarena.co.uk Tickets from £18.00 Ticket Hotline: 0844 493 6666 Group Sales: 0191 2606006

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lyn Spencer .