Wiltshire

There is an increasing body of evidence that points
to the significant benefits performance plays in a child’s development.&nbsp; Through studying drama, music and dance, children
learn to communicate and connect with others both emotionally and
intellectually; they learn to express themselves and explore their emotions.&nbsp; Performing also builds self-confidence, develops
leadership skills as well as the ability to work in a team and trains the brain
to work in different ways, co-ordinating movement and thought
simultaneously.&nbsp; Some studies also link
the study of performing arts to improved academic attainment.&nbsp; But perhaps the most important aspect of
getting involved in the performing arts at school is that it’s a lot of fun and
brings pupils together from different year groups, all focused on a common
goal.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="720" height="480" src="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/in-the-heights-2-1-720x480.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-20843" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/in-the-heights-2-1-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/in-the-heights-2-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/in-the-heights-2-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/in-the-heights-2-1-787x525.jpg 787w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/in-the-heights-2-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /><figcaption>Dauntsey&#8217;s School, December 2019</figcaption></figure>



A good school should provide
opportunities across the performing arts for all pupils, from early years
through to the sixth form.&nbsp; At Dauntsey&#8217;s, everyone
gets involved in music, drama and dance.&nbsp;
First formers mingle with sixth formers, and future professionals work
alongside people who simply want to get up and &#8216;have a go&#8217;. &nbsp;With concerts or recitals most weeks, six or
seven drama productions every year and a major dance showcase, there is plenty
of opportunity.&nbsp; Performance is so much a
part of the fabric of life at the School that pupils arrive for rehearsals
straight off the astro turf or out of the classroom, ready to change mental gear
and take up an entirely different challenge, be it music, drama, dance or
providing technical support behind the scenes.



Dauntsey’s
has an enviable reputation for its Drama programme.&nbsp; Chris Walker, Director of Drama at the
School, explains how most pupils get involved in drama at some point, either on
stage or behind the scenes. 



With
six or seven productions each year, ranging from small studio pieces to full
stage shows and musicals; we provide a variety of styles and plenty of choice.&nbsp; Recent showcases include;&nbsp;In The
Heights,&nbsp;Les Misérables,&nbsp;Billy Elliot,&nbsp;One Man Two Guvnors, Mathew
Bourne&#8217;s&nbsp;Lord of the Flies,&nbsp;Mamma Mia!&nbsp;and&nbsp;Jesus
Christ Superstar.&nbsp; We have taken
several of these productions to the West End for one-off performances which has
been an incredible opportunity for the pupils.



Drama is part of the
curriculum when pupils join Dauntsey’s.&nbsp;
Many go on to take it at GCSE or A level and some opt for the LAMDA
(London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts) exams programme as an extra-curricular
option.&nbsp; It’s a lot of fun but that’s not to say it’s a soft
option – it has its own important role in the education we offer.&nbsp; Drama helps develop self-confidence,
imagination, empathy, self-discipline, memory, social awareness and much more,
as well as increasing pupils’ aesthetic appreciation and providing an emotional
outlet.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/chat-room-1-381x500.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-20847" width="617" height="810" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/chat-room-1-381x500.jpg 381w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/chat-room-1-228x300.jpg 228w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/chat-room-1-768x1008.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/chat-room-1-400x525.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/chat-room-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 617px) 100vw, 617px" /></figure>



As well as
acting, pupils have the opportunity to direct, design sets and work on sound,
make-up, stage management and lighting.&nbsp; We
are fortunate to have a choice of performance spaces here.&nbsp; The Memorial Hall, the county’s largest
performance space, has a sound and lighting system worthy
of the West End and can seat up to 730 people. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Annabel&#8217;s Studio is an entirely
flexible space which is used for teaching, for exam presentation work,
workshops and for smaller-scale productions. It is essentially a black box that
can be configured in any number of ways.&nbsp;
Finally, Venue 2 is the newest drama building which serves as a teaching
space, rehearsal room and a comfortable performance venue seating for
approximately 60 people depending on the seating layout.



Inevitably Covid 19 limited the scope of the Drama
programme but we have an exciting schedule of productions this year.&nbsp; We can’t wait to have everyone back on stage
once more.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="720" height="480" src="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/19-Dauntseys-November-2018-720x480.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-20848" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/19-Dauntseys-November-2018-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/19-Dauntseys-November-2018-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/19-Dauntseys-November-2018-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/19-Dauntseys-November-2018-787x525.jpg 787w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/19-Dauntseys-November-2018.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /><figcaption>Dauntsey&#8217;s November 2018</figcaption></figure>



The study of music has sadly declined across
schools in the UK, in spite of its many benefits.&nbsp; Gareth Harris, Director of Music at
Dauntsey’s highlights its benefits and the School’s music programme.



Research suggests that both listening to music and playing an instrument
stimulates the brain, improves concentration and social skills.&nbsp; Enhanced mathematical skills have also been
observed in many advanced musicians and those children with a good musical ear
can often pick up languages more quickly as they recognise and learn the
different tones in a foreign language more quickly than children without
musical training.



There have also been studies carried out on groups of children of Primary
School age to see if learning an instrument can improve academic progress.&nbsp; Results indicate that, over time, those who
learn an instrument demonstrate enhanced development across a range of
subjects.



But music has a role to play
beyond the classroom.&nbsp; It crosses all borders,
languages and cultures.&nbsp; People of all
ages and backgrounds can come together under the umbrella of music and
communicate, empathise and develop long-lasting friendships.&nbsp; Music builds a sense of community and
provides a feeling of belonging in an organisation.&nbsp; It nurtures the soul and can provide an
avenue to spiritual experiences.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="720" height="480" src="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/14-Dauntseys-October-2015-720x480.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-20846" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/14-Dauntseys-October-2015-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/14-Dauntseys-October-2015-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/14-Dauntseys-October-2015-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/14-Dauntseys-October-2015-787x525.jpg 787w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/14-Dauntseys-October-2015.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /><figcaption>Dauntsey&#8217;s School October 2015</figcaption></figure>



Music is also one of the few activities where ensembles made up of students
from across all year groups work alongside each other as equals, rather than
being defined by their age or gender.&nbsp; It
is very common at Dauntsey’s to see a Lower School student performing alongside
one of our Sixth Formers in a choir or instrumental group.&nbsp; 



Music is thriving at Dauntsey’s, with some 40% of students learning an
instrument and participation in ensembles from choirs to rock bands seems to
increase almost every week.&nbsp; In recent
years, singing lessons have grown enormously in popularity while piano and
violin are also seeing a resurgence, along with guitar and saxophone. 



A number of pupils go on to study music at GCSE and A-Level.&nbsp; These qualifications have a challenging
curriculum to master and universities value them as part of an academic set of
GCSEs or A-Levels.&nbsp; It is possible to
study Medicine with an A-Level in Music alongside sciences and senior
consultant surgeons have remarked that they find a doctor who is a musician is
easier to train in surgical skills than a person without instrumental skills,
as the ability to learn patterns quickly and also to understand instruction
through gestures is already embedded into a musicians’ scheme of learning.



At GCSE Level, the study of music from the Western Classical tradition, composing and preparation of performances,
helps students develop a determination to strive for excellence, as well as
resilience, strong powers of concentration, self-confidence and emotional
intelligence.



Dauntsey’s students regularly go into the profession to study music or
music technology, but there have also been outstanding music students who have
pursued degrees in the sciences, humanities and languages.&nbsp; The School is updated regularly by old
Dauntseians involved in choirs, orchestras and bands who are enjoying a
lifetime of music-making.



Performing music has been hit hard by the pandemic but we can’t wait to
hear the sound of music filling the halls and corridors at Dauntsey’s once
again.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="720" height="480" src="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/Dance-Feb-20-720x480.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-20845" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/Dance-Feb-20-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/Dance-Feb-20-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/Dance-Feb-20-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/Dance-Feb-20-787x525.jpg 787w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/Dance-Feb-20.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /><figcaption>Daunstey&#8217;s School, February 20202</figcaption></figure>



Dance has many physical
and mental health benefits.&nbsp; Here,
Dauntsey’s Head of Dance, Emily Wilkins, discusses these benefits and describes
Dauntsey’s pioneering approach, proving that it’s for everyone from the
hesitant to the elite.



Dance is not only a great form of exercise,
developing a love of dance from an early age can encourage children to stay
active as they grow into adults.&nbsp; Dance
can help increase flexibility, physical strength and stamina which contributes
to improved performance in other sports.&nbsp;
It also builds children’s self-esteem and confidence as they discover a
world where they can channel their emotions and find a way to express
themselves.



It’s also a very social form of exercise.&nbsp; Children learn how to work as part of a team
and to build on each other’s ideas.&nbsp; As
children grow older, dance helps them to learn self-discipline and understand
that, by investing time and practice into something, they can achieve a great result.&nbsp; These are all valuable life skills which
children can take with them into adult life.



There is plenty of
evidence to demonstrate that dance has significant mental health benefits
too.&nbsp; Time spent at a dance class can
help improve mood and reduce anxiety.&nbsp;
All exercise is thought to be a mood booster due to the affect it has on
certain chemicals in your brain, such as dopamine and serotonin.&nbsp; But dance is particularly beneficial as it
requires brain power to master a sequence of steps which takes the mind away
from daily worries and concerns to focus entirely “in the moment”.&nbsp;&nbsp; This can be hugely beneficial for young
adults as they go through the tricky adolescent years.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/EH6A0156-357x500.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-20844" width="620" height="868" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/EH6A0156-357x500.jpg 357w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/EH6A0156-214x300.jpg 214w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/EH6A0156-768x1075.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/EH6A0156-375x525.jpg 375w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/02/EH6A0156.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" /></figure>



Dance also boosts academic
studies by increasing children’s confidence and making them open to new ideas. 



We take Dance seriously at
Dauntsey’s.&nbsp; It is compulsory for all
pupils in their first two years, so it becomes a normal part of life at School,
and the Lower School dance show each year is a highlight of the calendar. The
opportunity to dance continues in the Middle and Upper School where there is at
least one dance performance each term, which allows pupils to show off their
skills. 



Two dance clubs run every
day and cover every style imaginable, from contemporary to Irish dancing,
street dance, hip hop, tumbling, ballet and more. There’s a club just for boys
in the First to Fourth years called Girls Not Invited (GNI).&nbsp; Dance shows on television, such as Strictly
Come Dancing have had a huge impact, particularly on boys whose role models are
the supremely fit men they see on screen.



Our December Drama
production often features a lot of dance.&nbsp;
Last year, Lin Manuel Miranda’s Latin American musical In The Heights
involved salsa, as well as ballroom, and the performances from our lead dancers
were simply mesmerising.&nbsp; Taking a lead role in the annual musical is
the pinnacle of our performers’ school career.&nbsp;
Younger pupils see the older ones deliver amazing performances and this
really inspires them to work at their dance so that they can audition for these
roles when their time comes.&nbsp; 



We have a really strong
cohort of Upper School dance mentors.&nbsp;
These include pupils with dance scholarships, which pupils can apply for
in their Second and Fifth Forms.&nbsp; They
have to put together a dance CV, choreograph two pieces and be interviewed. The
successful dancers are offered a Performing Arts’ Award and as dance scholars
they are then given more rigorous training and opportunities to perform. In
return, they need to be dedicated and inspiring. One, for example, runs a Lower
School dance troupe.



Dance has become so popular
that that we introduced a GCSE three years ago – 15 pupils are taking it this
year – and an A level in Dance two years ago.&nbsp;
Part of the work towards these exams takes place during our daily Long
Break, as well as after lessons in the later afternoon and early evening, so
pupils have to be in love with the art form to cope with the additional
workload. 



The GCSE is 60 per cent
practical and 40 per cent academic, covering dance movements, biology in order
to prevent injury and maths for choreography. The A level is more about the
history of dance and analysis of how it developed. So far, three pupils who
have taken the A level have been accepted at top dance schools, including the
London Contemporary Dance School.



Dance has come a long way in just a few years – and there is no doubt that it’s going to go a lot further. 



Dauntsey’s School, High Street, West Lavington, Devizes SN10 4HE, Tel:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=dauntseys&amp;rlz=1C5CHFA_enGB838GB838&amp;oq=daunt&amp;aqs=chrome.1.69i57j69i59l2j69i60l3.3943j0j4&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8#">01380 814500</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dauntseys.org/">dauntseys.org</a>

Why performing arts at schools matter

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