Olympics themed dance workshops

In the run up to the 2012 Olympics, Zest has been doing loads of Olympics themed dance workshops in schools.

It is proving a really popular theme for schools wanting to tap into the event of the year. We feel really excited to live in London during the Olympics, it’s going to be crazy busy and full of activity.

Our director Olivia danced in front of the Queen at the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in Manchester in 2002. It was one of the best experiences she has had, and great for the City. So we are really looking forward to this one in London.

Our Olympic themed dance workshops have been delivered in one of two ways:

Countries:

Your school can choose a few Olympic countries and try some traditional dances from those places. Each class can pick a different country, or you can have a mixture of countries in one workshop. When you try the traditional dances from a country, this gives the children more of a flavour of the place.

Music: The music we use would be dependant on the countries you choose to focus on.

Sports:

There are 26 different Olympic sports to choose from so each class can focus on one sport to turn into a dance, or have a mixture of sports to turn into a fun, athletic, quirky, sporty dance!

Music: We use iconic sport themed music which the children will recognise. We also use sound effects of the crowd cheering and a fanfare to introduce the sporting events, this adds character and fun for the pupils.

Zest’s director Olivia (March 2012)

“Well it has been an amazing two weeks for the Olympics here in London. I was lucky enough to get tickets for the Opening Ceremony dress rehearsal and it was incredible.

I thought it was a really interesting interpretation of what we have here in the UK and our history, a really classy, creative show.

The choreography when changing the scenes between the ‘Green and pleasant land’ and the ‘Industrial Revolution’ was so well done, it must have taken ages to work that out! The Akram Khan piece was beautiful.

My friends were dancing in the NHS bit, the Text/House bit, and one was leading out the Mexico athletic team. I was very proud (and a bit jealous!).

These Olympics themed dance workshops would be a great theme for any PE lesson.

So let’s all get inspired by the amazing Olympic and Paralympic athletes – no excuses – you can do anything you put your mind (and body) to!