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Dance
Dancing guys dancing!
from
Susie Reeves-Sharp
I have spent sixteen years in this
building and my answer to most
questions is dance-related! When I
came to the school all those years
ago, I had just spent four years with
my babies after having moved down
from London and a dance career. It
came as a great shock to me to find
myself confronted with behaviour
management, crowd control issues
and DATA!! I learnt on the job, and
spent many an evening crying into
my evening meal. Why are they
so reluctant to dance? Surely everyone wants to be able
to pirouette?? Haha! Well, sure, I now realise there are
many approaches and sometimes subterfuge is your only
weapon when dealing with disruption and recalcitrance….
every now and then I have big burly farmers approach me
in the street:
Miss Reeves-Sharp! Do you remember me!
Are you still flexible?
? No and Yes.
So this is a goodbye and thank you, KEVICC, for teaching
me patience, tolerance, understanding, empathy, how to
break it all down and put it slowly back together again,
how to put my own frustrated dancer to one side (at least
until the corridors are quiet and I can jete and pirouette
to my heart’s content!). I have been rewarded a thousand
times over when a student gets the joy in their bones
and muscles and finds freedom there. I know that dance
provides so much that is good for the soul, the body and
the intellect and, without dance in secondary education,
many talented students would never discover this about
themselves or have the benefits it brings.
I wholeheartedly say thanks to Stephen Jones (Principal
of the school in 2000) who knew in my unqualified teacher
state that I was passionate enough about my subject to
want to learn the teacher standards. Thank you to Sarah
McInally, who has been the colleague from heaven and
has been my trusted friend and comrade in arms when
things have been difficult with valuing our subject.
As to my new life, I feel like I am having a rebirth to revisit
my passion for movement, nature, other dancers and, of
course, my incredible husband! It’s not retirement but
reinvention, and I am lucky enough to have some energy
put by for this to happen! A lesson to all my teaching
friends; leave some space for your other passions!
SPRUNG
~ our two evening extravaganza in April, was a
huge success. It was a truly inclusive collection of dancers
demonstrating their creative talents andperformance expertise
to inspire, excite and move audiences. We were very proud of
our students, combined with Dartington Primary, Attik Dance
and Alumni students. Thank you to all the members of staff
who helped to shape the successful performance platform and
make it a memorable experience. Students are already talking
about what they may do for next year! The greatest thanks
are to the students and parents who allow us to facilitate
imaginative pieces of choreography and performances that
has something for everyone in the audience. Thank you for
your continued support.
This year’s SPRUNG was a particularly special one as we say
goodbye to Susie Reeves-Sharp who has taught at KEVICC
for 16 years. She has truly captivated, shaped, nurtured and
released dance students into the dance world. Her wonderful
contribution to their lives has proved invaluable in becoming
who they are today. Matthew Clearly (an ex-student of KEVICC)
spoke eloquently at the end of SPRUNG about all the students
who have gone on to be better individuals as a result of Susie’s
teaching and shared passion for dance.
Sarah McInally
Some Comments:
I just wanted to email to thankyou verymuch for giving
our Y5/6 dance club the amazing and memorable
experience of performing in this year's Sprung dance
festival. The children were completely over-awed
with the other performances and thoroughly enjoyed
performing their own dance in the theatre. The finale,
last night, was an absolute joy to watch - I shall not
forget the euphoric looks on the Dartington children's
faces as they danced around with the 'big kids'!
Gill Honey, year 6 teacher at Dartington Primary
Absolutely incredible – an amazing event that shows
such talent and dedication. Thank you for reminding
me of how great this school can be. Sarah/Susie – you
have done an amazing job with these students and
they are very lucky to have been taught by you. I know
how much hard work goes into putting on events like
this so really well done!
Carly Perring, KEVICC
Our students, past and present, never ever cease
to amaze me. Simply, as usual, an out-of-body
experience. BRILLIANT. I feel privileged to know them.
And aren’t they lucky to have/had such FANTASTIC
teachers!
Janie Glynn-Chivers, KEVICC
