Out-of-School Hours - Language of Dance ® Clubs

Language of Dance^® (LOD) Clubs are a wonderful way to provide dance activities for primary schools in a community setting, encouraging shared participation in an arts activity for children of all abilities, including those with special needs or disabilities.

LOD Clubs focus on providing a fun activity in which children explore movement concepts and learn movement terminology and the corresponding dance symbols through the LOD approach. Emphasis is placed on developing the children's creative skills - they choreograph their own work and record it on paper using the dance symbols, sharing their ideas with each other and creating a personal choreographic document. They often work towards an end of term performance for parents, teachers and the rest of the school.

LOD Clubs Aims and Objectives:

• To provide dance activities underpinned by the Language of Dance^® approach for children of 5-7 and 7-11 respectively
• To extend the children's participation, enjoyment and understanding of dance and its place in the world today without confining their experience to a particular dance style
• To provide dance activities that motivate children, build their self-esteem and foster a positive attitude to learning through an alternative context
• To provide an arts activity that will extend classroom teaching and learning to suit the personal needs and interests of the children and support the school's curriculum
• To provide a safe and nurturing environment in which dance activities can take place

The clubs take place during term time at lunch times and/or after school. Activities are planned on a termly or half-termly basis and are designed to support areas of focus in the school's curriculum and/or aims. The intent is to extend existing curriculum activities rather than to mimic or replace them. Our LOD Club leaders liaise with teaching staff regarding possible areas of investigation and keep staff informed of progress.

LOD Club leaders are fully trained and supported by the Language of Dance^® Centre.

LOD Clubs are currently held in schools in the London Borough of Waltham Forest and are funded through after school provision of the Lifelong Services [Education] Department of the London Borough of Waltham Forest New Opportunities Fund, Waltham Forest Arts Council, Waltham Forest Community Development and Grant Aid Services, and by the individual schools.

For more information on Language of Dance^® Clubs, contact us at the Centre.

Our current clubs are generously supported by

The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust, The Mercers Company, Notting Hill Methodist Church, Miss E.A Pemberton Barnes Will Trust and Capital FM's Help a London Child.

Interested in becoming a Language of Dance^® Club leader?

See our job vacancies page.