It’s a Strictly show with a very special twist in Charleville
THE craze spawned by the television show Strictly Come Dancing came to C.B.S. Secondary School Charleville when the TY students there teamed up with the girls from the equivalent class in St. John the Baptist Community School over the county border in Hospital in Co. Limerick, to stage a Strictly show in the Charleville Park Hotel on last Thursday night, with the proceeds going to St. Joseph’s Foundation Charleville.
The event attracted a big attendance, which included the Principal of C.B.S. Charleville, Una Griffin, who extended a warm welcome to all present. In the programme notes, Ms Griffin said that it had been an extremely busy few months for the Transition Year class since September, as those students participating in the event practised under the tutelage of Derek Long (Dancing Derek), Fiona Quinn and Kevin O’Grady.
“Our students have learned and developed a new skill, from foxtrot to tango. A very special mention has to be made to the eight TY girls from the John the Baptist Community School in Hospital, who got on board with this project and made their way over each week for dancing lessons,” she said.
“Limerick County Youth Theatre have been an integral part of the process supporting the dancers and even dancing themselves. We also have a group of dancers from the St. Joseph’s Foundation TESS Training Centre at Broad Street, Charleville, and we are very proud to have them here with us tonight as part of this event,” she said.
Ms Griffin also paid tribute to local communities of Charleville and Hospital for their support through sponsorship and ticket sales, without which, she said, the event would not have been possible, and to members of the C.B.S. teaching staff Ms Mulroe and Ms Barton, who were involved in all aspects of the organisation of the venture.
“As a school we work closely with St. Joseph’s Foundation and we felt it appropriate that funds raised would go towards the excellent service provided by the Foundation in Charleville and its hinterland,” said Ms Griffin.
Thirteen couples, 12 of them students from both schools and one teacher couple from C.B.S. Charelville, took part in the show, along with the dancers from the TESS Training Centre in Charleville. The dances performed on the night included the Viennese and old-time waltzes, the quick step, rumba, the bhangra and hip-hop dancing.
The TESS programme aims to support learners to maximise their independence and transition to adult life, enhance their personal and social development, and use local community facilities to develop a range of relationships in their community, in line with their choices, needs and abilities.
TESS has worked in partnership with Friar’s Gate Theatre Kilmallock’s education and outreach department projects and have seen the positive impact on learners physical, emotional, social and cognitive development.
Dance and drama brings fun, humour and laughter to learning, which improves motivation and reduces stress. Movement improves flexibility, co-ordintion, balance and control.