The magic of Bollywood has inspired young dancers at Upton Juniors to get into the groove.
Children from Years 3, 5 and 6 hit the dance floor at a series of workshops where they explored the rhythm, techniques and interpretation of movement to traditional Bhangra music.
The dance experience formed part of their learning about the religion, culture and heritage of Hinduism in their current Religious Education topic that also celebrated the recent annual Diwali festival of lights.
Led by RE and Personal Development Lead at the school Izzy Reed, children practiced Bollywood hand gestures, experienced a variety of music and learnt a routine.
She said : “They had a fantastic time and said that they had never done anything like this before and that they loved hearing the different music. The workshop also included opportunities for children to work in groups, perform and build their own confidence and resilience.
“You could feel a buzz and an energy throughout each workshop. It was a wonderful opportunity for children to develop their cultural capital and appreciation for diversity. It was fantastic to see this cross-curricular activity within the pupils’ PE sessions.”
Year 4 children will be taking their turn at the Bollywood workshop in the coming weeks.
Head of School Darci Arthur was impressed by the Bollywood dancing. She added: “There was real energy and excitement about the way they embraced this style of music and movement that was new to most of them.
“It is all part of our cultural diversity where we encourage our pupils to explore different values and traditions that are present in our multicultural society. Our learning activities reflect this and celebrate the British value of mutual respect towards different cultures.”
*Diwali is a five-day Festival of Lights, celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world, and it signifies new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.
Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word deepavali, meaning ‘rows of lighted lamps’. Houses, shops and public places are decorated with small oil lamps called diyas, while those celebrating also enjoy fireworks and sweets.