A festival is a dance competition on stage where candidates are given the opportunity to win a medal.
We enter the following festivals: Bracknell (February), Newbury (March), Farnborough (April), Basingstoke (May), Fleet (September), and Andover (November).
Miss Jenni organises the entries in advance of each festival. Entry fees are around £15 per pupil (per dance), and then parents pay about £5 on the door to watch on the day.
Pupils can enter a solo, a duet, or a group. Miss Jenni chooses the music and sets the choreography. She usually does this within normal lesson time, but sometimes extra rehearsal is required.
A special costume is required for festivals. It is important that the costume ‘fits’ with the choreography, music, and theme.
On the day dancers need to have their hair and make up done. Miss Jenni will help with this if she can but it is useful if parents learn how to do this.
After all the candidates have danced the adjudicator gives a medal for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Everyone gets a written report and certificate afterwards, even if they didn’t place.
Festivals are a wonderful opportunity for the children to perform on a stage for an audience. It is also fun to work on festival choreography alongside grade work.
