SHAMITA RAY

Shamita has been teaching dance in schools all over the UK and Europe for the last fifteen years. She enjoys delivering a range of classes, workshops and lectures to nursery, primary, secondary and special schools. These can be based on contemporary dance, Indian dance, or jazz, with a focus on both technique and creative exploration. All schools in the UK are covered, and can include children of all ages, as well as INSET workshops  for teachers, and special needs. If your school would be interested in having a dance workshop, then you will find all the information you need below.

     

Workshops are available in a range of dance styles, including:

CONTEMPORARY DANCE  an excellent way to learn technique, and develop creativity

INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE  discover the exquisite hand gestures and rhythmic foot patterns of traditional bharatanatyam dance

BOLLYWOOD  energetic and enjoyable for all, danced to catchy Bollywood tunes, and funky Bhangra beats

FUNKY STREET JAZZ  cool and funky MTV-style pop routines (great for boys!)

CREATIVE DANCE  create and develop your own dance, using a text or theme  you are working on (great for younger children)

Workshops are for all ages and abilities, and can cover all year groups, starting from Nursery and Reception, right through to GCSE and 'A' Level. Shamita can also work with special schools, and can deliver INSET workshops which come inclusive of a resource pack and music CD. Projects can be based on a theme or issue you are working on as part of the curriculum, and she can assist with choreographing and presenting a performance piece at the end.

All you need to provide is a hall and, if possible, a CD player. The workshops can fit around your timetable. Lengths that are recommended - although this is not set in stone! - is 30 minutes for Nursery and Reception; 45 minutes for Year 1; and an hour for Year 2 upwards. Workshops for KS3 can also be an hour, and for GCSE and 'A' Level, 1½ to 2 hours is appropriate. You can book workshops for a half-day (up to 3 hours), or for a full day (up to 6 hours), and arrange the schedule to suit your needs. You may want many classes to experience a short, taster workshop each, or you may prefer one or two classes to have a longer, more intensive session, to achieve a fuller understanding of the dance style. You can also book for a whole week - ideal for a themed week - or for summer schools. 
 
                  
SPECIALIST AREAS

Over the years, Shamita has built up specialist knowledge and experience in certain fields. For example:

She is able to offer a contemporary dance workshop for students preparing for the GCSE Performance Piece. She is able to choreograph and teach a 2½ minute dance, to be performed in groups, with lifts, jumps and interaction, all within the requirements of the syllabus (this is a full day workshop - up to 6 hours).

She can also complement the Primary School topic on India with an Indian dance workshop. She can theme the workshop around the things you are studying, for example, Indian gods and goddesses, Rama and Sita, Diwali, and the Indian village of Chembakolli.

And if you fancy teaching Indian dance yourself, why not book an INSET workshop, specially designed for teaching Indian dance in schools? Learn how to teach both a traditional dance, and a funky Bollywood number, get advice on creative tasks based around Indian hand gestures and rhythm patterns, and come away with a resource pack and a music CD. (This is a half-day workshop - up to 3 hours.)

FEEDBACK / COMMENTS

'An excellent workshop. All the children and staff enjoyed it. Lessons were pitched to match the childrens' abilities. We were amazed at how much they learned in half an hour.'  Sue Bridgeman, Montgomery Infant School and Nursery

'Fantastic - really good with children. The children really enjoyed themselves, I could see that you really enjoyed working with the children too.' Sheila George, Woodgrange Infant School

'Thank you so much for teaching us how to do Indian dance. I really enjoyed the big jumps at the end of the sequence, and the music at the beginning.' William Key, pupil at Unicorn School.

COST

Workshops are £150 for a half-day (up to 3 hours), or £250 for a whole day (up to 6 hours), plus travel expenses. INSET workshops are £200 (a half-day) plus travel expenses, and include a resource pack and music CD.

                    

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Shamita has a CRB Enhanced Disclosure and Public Liability Insurance.

Children need to be in their PE kits for the workshop.

There should be a maximum of 30 children in a class, please

Taking a video recording of the workshop is not allowed, although you can take photographs of the workshop.

A teacher must be present during the workshop the whole time.

Shamita does not provide a performance as part of the workshop, but is happy to choreograph a performance piece for the children. She can also bring in DVDs of dance performance for the children to watch.

Shamita does not teach in costume, but is happy to bring in photos for the children to look at.

If you would like a copy of the music to follow up the work, you can purchase a copy from Shamita for an additional £5 (unless you have booked an INSET workshop, in which case you will receive a CD.)

Shamita is also available to teach children outside school, for Saturday classes, or private tuition; and adults at beginner, general, and professional level. Please  get in touch with her if you would like more information.


PLEASE DO GET IN TOUCH IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION, OR WOULD LIKE TO BOOK A WORKSHOP