PRESS RELEASE: Young dancers from across London Step Around Town

[Jan McNulty]

PRESS RELEASE 20/05/2024

 

Young people from London come together for Step Around Town 2024

 

Step Around Town is an event by Step into Dance, a Royal Academy of Dance programme run in partnership with the Jack Petchey Foundation

 

Photo credit: Jack Williamson, Williamson’s Photography

 

 

• From April-May, over 500 students from 33 schools across the capital participated in Step Around Town 2024
• Performances took place across London boroughs: Wandsworth, Barnet, Croydon, Newham, Southwark and Bexley
• A special performance took place for SEND students at Royal Academy of Dance
• Step Around Town is one of a number of events organised by Step into Dance, the UK’s largest inclusive dance programme for secondary school students.

 

Over 500 students from 33 schools across London performed in front of hundreds of audience members as part of Step Around Town 2024.

 

Uplifting and energetic performances took place in schools across Greater London, with students taking to the stage to perform a variety of dance styles, and inclusive movement from SEND schools.

 

Participating London boroughs included Wandsworth, Barnet, Croydon, Newham, Southwark and Bexley.

 

A sharing specifically curated for students with additional needs also took place as part of Step Around Town 2024.

 

Young dancers from SEND schools took to the stage. Photo credit: Jack Williamson (Williamson’s Photography)

 

Royal Academy of Dance’s youth company, SYNC, also took to the stage at Step Around Town events to mesmerise audiences with their dynamic dance routine.

 

Step Around Town is one of the many events created by the Royal Academy of Dance’s Step into Dance programme, which is one of the UK’s largest inclusive secondary school programmes run in partnership with the Jack Petchey Foundation, celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year.

 

Gemma Juma, Chief Executive Officer of the Jack Petchey Foundation, said: “The young people who performed at the Step Around Town event were exceptionally talented. Showcases like this are so uplifting and allow young dancers to express themselves and show off their hard work. The Jack Petchey Foundation is proud to give young people opportunities like this to shine.”

 

Alexander Campbell, Artistic Director of RAD said: “The Step Around Town events are a brilliant opportunity for young dancers from across London and Essex to come together. These events are so inspiring, energetic and really epitomise the RAD's belief in the power of dance.”

 

Step into Dance, a Royal Academy of Dance programme in partnership with the Jack Petchey Foundation, enables young people to develop their passion, skills and understanding of dance. Working with mainstream and SEND schools across London and Essex, Step into Dance reaches around 3,000 students annually through a diverse and inclusive programme of weekly classes, workshops and performance opportunities, aiming to reach those that might not otherwise connect with dance.

 

For a full list of the Step into Dance performance events as well as other summer events, visit the Royal Academy of Dance website.

 

To learn more about Step into Dance programme visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t_lH8mVC74

                                                 

Notes to Editors

 

Step into Dance

Delivered by professional dance practitioners and artists, Step into Dance supports the general wellbeing and healthy development of young people, and enables them to develop knowledge, techniques, and experiences in dance, as well as acquiring personal skills that transfer to being successful in whatever their future lives may hold.

The main objective of the Step into Dance programme continues to be to reach as many young people as possible in the London and Essex regions through regular dance sessions in schools, creating opportunities for youth to connect to dance, and reaching young people that might not otherwise have this possibility.

 

Step into Dance is a Royal Academy of Dance programme in partnership with the Jack Petchey Foundation

 

www.royalacademyofdance.org/step-into-dance

 

Royal Academy of Dance

Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) is one of the most influential dance education and training organisations in the world with a strong global membership in 85 countries.

 

Established in 1920 to improve standards and re-invigorate dance training, the Academy helps and encourages its teachers to perfect their teaching skills and pass on this knowledge to their students. There are currently over 1,000 students in full-time or part-time teacher training programmes with the Academy and each year the examination syllabus is taught to thousands of young people worldwide, with around a quarter of a million pupils per year going on to take RAD exams.

www.royalacademyofdance.org

 

Jack Petchey Foundation

 

The Jack Petchey Foundation was set up by Sir Jack Petchey CBE to inspire and celebrate young people. Since 1999, over £170 million has been invested in programmes to benefit almost 1.2m young people aged 11-25 across London and Essex.

 

We support many programmes, from sport to science, music to mentoring, internships to volunteering and more. We encourage every young person to get involved and try something new.

 

Our major programme is the Jack Petchey Achievement Award Scheme, which is run in 1,400 youth clubs, youth organisations and secondary schools across London and Essex and recognises the achievements of around 12,000 young people every year.