The questions you often ask :

Q: What is the maximum number of workshops per day?

A: We recommend no more than 6 workshops maximum per day.

Q: Which age group are the workshops aimed at?

A: Everyone! No matter their age or ability. The dances varied level of complexity can easily be adapted to the workshop participants' abilities.

Q: What is the maximum number of children in a workshop?

A: The smaller number the better, otherwise no more than a class size of about 30

Q: How long do the workshops last?

A:The workshops last approximately 1 hour for KS2/KS3, down to 1/2h for Nursery/Reception.They are tailored to suit the needs of different age groups.

Q: What are the workshops' contents?

A: Genuine traditional dances and songs from different French regions. Their historical, geographical, cultural and instrumental context is given before dancing. Links with the school curriculum can be discussed before hand with the teachers to ensure maximum benefit. 

The workshops also provide a perfect environment to introduce basic French language in a fun and pleasurable way.

Q: Can you come to my school if it is a long way from Yorkshire?

A: Yes! If you live a long way from Yorkshire, why not organise a cluster of schools near you to maximise the travelling costs? We can stay several days in one area.

Q: When do you teach, in which context?

A: We often go to schools as part of their French/multicultural day or week.

The workshops are also popular as part of transition days in secondary schools, when Year 6 children come to visit.

We can perform for and organise an end of the day assembly where the workshops participants present a dance to the whole school.

PLEASE BOOK EARLY AS FRENCH DANCE FOR SCHOOLS IS VERY POPULAR

Comments from Schools

Otley All Saints, CofE Primary School

Just a quick note to say thank you to you and to Robin for today - everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the kids were all 'buzzing' from it!

Stanley Education Centre

Just a quick email to say thank you so much for your wonderful session last week. Everyone REALLY enjoyed it, the feedback was incredibly positive and everyone left smiling.

What more can you ask for?

Moorfield French Day

I just wanted to thank you and Robin for helping make our French Day at Moorfield last Tuesday, so enjoyable. Everyone had a great time and I have received lots of positive comments from both staff and children. Merci.

Bastille Day at Norristhorpe

Dear Yannick, thank you very much for Friday. The children really enjoyed it and it made a most welcome addition to our Bastille Day celebrations.

As I mentioned on Friday, please could I book you again for next year?  It will be Monday July 14th.  This is a firm booking, as everyone thought your work was excellent. Merci beaucoup encore et à bientôt. Amitiés. Karen

WBC French Dance Workshops 2009

Feedback from Schools

Yes, our French dancing went very well. Even though it was the last Friday afternoon of term, the children were fully engaged and interested. Yannick was great fun and sensitive to the children's abilities and needs. She quickly built up their confidence and the children were begining to use the french language as a natural part of the work. We loved the live music and it was interesting to see how much better it was than the CD that I have been using. The player could change the tempo to suit the children's pace.

Great fun!

Willow Bank Junior

Our children have studied traditional dance and so were familar with the idea of holding hands with boys and girls which helped with the pace of the session. The were interested in the bagpipes as they have played recorders and are taking part in the Maestros instrument lesson at the moment. It was good for them to see insteruments being combined with dance.
 
The children loved making links to words they know in other languages and the teachers were very enthusiastic at encouraging children to share their multi-lingual and multi-cultural experiences. They recognised children who needed calming down and dealt with them in a positive and inclusive way. They also made use of our reward system.
 
A successful addition to our Healthy week which we would love to repeat

Keep Hatch Primary

All the feedback I got from Jenny was very positive and the children
(who can be a challenging group and contain a couple of boys she had
concerns about) absolutely loved it and took part with enthusiasm.

Jenny was particularly impressed with how little she had to do as the
instructor took over and led the session. I was very pleased to hear
that she was not allowed to sit and observe/mark but that all the
adults in the class were expected to take part. I chose that class in
particular as I wanted them to experience 'fun french' the adults as
well as the children!

So thank you very much - all positive from us

Lambs Lane Primary

Thank you very much for the French Dance Workshop, the class really enjoyed it and were particularly impressed with the live music. It has inspired us to continue'Dancing round the world'! We liked 'Jean Petit' best .

Grazeley Primary

Welcome

information

Workshops

The benefits of dancing are numerous. Primarily a physical activity, it is also fun and enjoyable. Thanks to its communal nature, traditional dancing can have positive benefit to self-confidence, whilst developing skills in team work no matter the dancer’s age, experience or ability.