Young people across Merton are putting on their dancing shoes as part of the annual Dancescape Festival.

Merton Community Dance with funding assistance from Merton’s Art Development Team has organised a series of workshops with professional choreographers and dance teachers as part of the festival.

Over 125 young people from schools and local dance groups have received professional training in areas such as African dance, contemporary ballet, contemporary dance, trapeze and Indian dance since the workshops began in Autumn 2004.

Raynes Park High School will this month begin a trapeze project with local trapeze artist Lorraine Moynahan before the festival concludes next month.

Councillor Stephen Alambritis, Merton’s Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Economic Development said:

“Merton Community Dance has done an excellent job in supporting young people and developing dance companies in the borough with dance work in schools being carried out to the highest quality.

“It is the first introduction many young people in Merton may have to professional dance and it wets their appetite for a life long love.”

Dale Miller from Merton Community Dance said:

“The support from Arts Development Merton allows us to organise an annual programme of dance in school and community centres as the emphasis on the national curriculum means that schools often do not have the time or the funding to support dance.

“We can step in and ensure there is a high quality programme of dance each year in Merton. Many young people get inspired, realise they do have the talent to dance and continue to study dance once the workshops have ended.”

ENDS.