Pupils bring a dramatic edge to dance competition

Over 150 children from 8 primary schools across the borough showcased their choreography and dancing skills at the Dramatic Edge Dance Gala competition held on Wednesday 9th February here at Hampton Academy.

St John the Baptist Primary School, who went home with the trophy, won the judges over with their exciting performance of an Irish Dance Reel. Other schools performed an assortment of inspired routines including ‘Singing in the Rain´ from Chase Bridge School and the more modern ‘Shin-Sham-Shimmy´ from Sheen Mount School.

Schools were able to choose their own music and choreographed the dance routines

themselves. Each performance was allocated three minutes to impress the judges with their dance routines.

The event was attended by over 150 people, including the Deputy Mayor of Richmond upon Thames, Cllr Rita Palmer, who said:

“Dramatic Edge in all its forms is a fantastic and dynamic programme which has been running in the borough for over 6 years. It aims to nurture and develop young people´s confidence and communication skills through dance and drama, which will benefit them not only now, but as they go through life."

“A very big well done to all the students and teachers who have taken part, and helped to bring this together, your hard work and enthusiasm has definitely paid off. I had a wonderful afternoon and was so pleased to see such a high-level of enjoyment by all performers and attendees too!"

All the schools who took part in the competition received a certificate for taking part.

Dramatic Edge is a Richmond Council initiative launched in 2004 to raise the standard of drama and dance across local schools in the borough.