Primary students buzzing about a dance show that will be simply Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Lucy Wilson, in Year 12, is working with a group of Year 5 and 6 students at Richmond Methodist School (RMS) to put on a dance performance which we know is going to be simply Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!  Lucy, a CTEC Performing Arts student, and a keen dancer is hoping to become a teacher and works with students in all age groups at RMS each week to gain experience. When Mrs O’Malley suggested she could work with some students to put on a dance showcase during National Dance Week at the end of April, she jumped at the opportunity!

Lucy said: “I wanted the dance to have a theme that the students could relate to and thrive from. I decided to go with Mary Poppins as it’s very energetic, filled with lots of dancing and singing. There are around 30 students involved and I am working with Miss Wood, Deputy Headteacher.

“I’ve always wanted to study primary education and go into teaching and this experience so far has definitely made me more passionate about it. So thank you to RMS and especially Miss Wood for looking after me while I’m there!

“It’s great to be able to see students dancing with their peers around them and it’s an amazing atmosphere to be a part off. We can’t wait to have them at Richmond School shining on the stage with costumes, lights and music. I love seeing all the students come out of their shells and really getting involved.”

Natasha Wood, Deputy Headteacher at Richmond Methodist School, said: “At RMS, we greatly value creativity and performance and so I was delighted when Lucy approached me about collaborating for National Dance Week 2022. I was impressed with the initiative that Lucy showed and her keenness to give the Year 5 and 6 pupils the chance to experience the benefits of dance and performance that she herself has benefitted from.

“When starting a club here, we display a sign-up sheet on our sports wall and I don’t think that any club has ever been filled so quickly! There was a buzz from the upper KS2 pupils from the moment they were told about the project, especially since they will perform on the Richmond School stage with lights and costume. They are so excited to be working with a Sixth Form Dance student and they loved the idea of the choreography being based on ‘Mary Poppins: The Musical’. I myself enjoy dance and advocate its many benefits, as well as the creative outlet it provides. I am looking forward to working with Lucy and seeing her ideas come to life in rehearsals and then on stage.

“Finally, as a former Richmond Methodist pupil and Richmond School student myself, and now as Deputy Head at RMS, I recognise the importance of fostering a strong connection between the two schools which is mutually beneficial to all of our young people.”

Mrs O’Malley, Lucy’s Dance Teacher, said: “Lucy is studying Ctec Performing Arts and she expressed an interest in gaining some experience in a Primary School to aid her passion to teach. I encouraged Lucy to consider working with a group of students at RMS to help build a performance for our assembly on National Dance Week.

“Lucy has taken to this role in full stride and this will really help her leadership skills and creativity. Alongside this, Lucy will develop exceptional skills of working with this age group and how to engage them in learning to make progress.

“Lucy is providing a platform for RMS to gain an opportunity of performing on a stage at Richmond School which will hopefully inspire those involved to consider a hobby or career in the world of Performing Arts. I can’t wait to see the outcome of Lucy’s project and see Richmond Methodist Primary students performing to our year 7s.”