Since January local people with an interest and some experience in dance have been put through their paces in an intense training course. The aim of the course was to train people with dance or movement experience to a level whereby they can help create and sustain dance activities throughout Moray.

Over a period of five months participants took part in five intensive training weekends, where they learnt the principles of working with youth dance. The practically based course also offered participants the chance to take their 1st Aid training course and a course in Child Protection.

Jeni MacRae, Youth Dance Development Worker and Fiona Hay, Arts Development Worker devised and led the course along with sessions from Scottish Dance Theatre, Alan Irvine of Freshmess and Karl Jay-Lewin.

A key element of the course required participants to shadow other dance professionals in and around Moray for a total of 30 hours. The course culminated in an assessment weekend when participants had to plan and run a workshop with a youth group.

Seventeen people signed up for the course, only three dropped out, seven are still to complete their assessment and seven have successfully completed their assessment. Those successfully completing the course and receiving pcertificates are Caroline Van Der Heiden, Katie Hughes, Tara Khoury, Emma Bell, Margot Loughrie, Kirsty Preston and Carol Hendry.

By training these new dance leaders it will be possible to develop and sustain youth dance in Moray. Already the successful ‘graduates’ are organising and running dance projects across Moray, including three days of workshops in Findochty, Forres and Aberlour from 1 – 3 August.

For more details on Moray Council’s Youth Dance programme contact Jeni MacRae, Youth Dance Development Worker, 01343 557144