Member Article

Tiny dancers mix it up at intu Eldon Square ahead of City Hall performance

A group of talented young dancers has dazzled the crowds at a Newcastle shopping centre with a special performance ahead of their upcoming dance festival at Newcastle City Hall.

intu Eldon Square is sponsoring the Newcastle School Dance Festival which takes place on Tuesday 27 March at Newcastle City Hall. To thank the centre for its support, dancers from Ravenswood Primary School, Heaton, put on a surprise performance for intu Eldon Square shoppers which included a show-stopping rendition of Little Mix’s Salute.

The Newcastle School Dance Festival is a city-wide event, bringing together groups from 50 primary schools from across Newcastle in a joyful celebration of dance.

The festival is in its fifth year and is organised by the Newcastle PE & School Sports Service which aims to deliver competitive and healthy active lifestyle opportunities to all children and young people of school age.

For the children taking part, the festival encourages creativity in a supportive rather than competitive environment and gives them the confidence to take up dance outside of school and further develop their talents.

Clare Cannon, community manager, intu north east, said:

“We’re delighted to support this inspiring campaign, which encourages local children to embrace a healthy lifestyle, get active, have fun with friends and achieve their goals - culminating in a confidence-boosting performance in one of Newcastle’s most prestigious venues.

“Visitors to intu Eldon Square have really enjoyed seeing the children deliver such a professional performance which truly reflects the months of hard work put in by pupils and teachers alike.”

Helen Taylor from Newcastle PE & School Sport Service, commented:

“We absolutely love this event - from the excitement of the children arriving, to the smiles on their faces when they perform and the applause and cheers from their families at the end of their performance.

“This event gives children the confidence and self-belief that they are able to perform to a large audience which is something most children will not have the opportunity to do at primary school.

“We believe that raising participation levels in physical activity via fun and exciting opportunities such as the Newcastle School Dance Festival will lead to children adopting a healthy active lifestyle throughout their lives.”

Beth, aged 10, from Heaton, Newcastle, said:

“I am really excited about taking part in the Newcastle Schools Dance Festival and it’s great that we have had an extra chance to perform at intu Eldon Square. Dancing is one of my favourite activities and I have lots of fun rehearsing and performing. My mum and dad are looking forward to seeing me perform on the stage at Newcastle City Hall.”

Lina, aged 11, from Benton, Newcastle, added:

“We are performing a really powerful dance which has been really fun rehearsing. I have really enjoyed having the chance to perform in front of people at intu Eldon Square. I love dancing - for me it’s a way of entertaining and making people happy.”

Miss Katie Jackson, a Teacher at Ravenswood Primary, commented:

“I absolutely love the Dance Festival and the children love it too. I run a Dance Club at Ravenswood and it’s great to have something that the children can work towards. The children were really excited about getting the chance to perform at intu Eldon Square and it made them practise even harder.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Suhaine Baptie .