£500 boost gets school ‘flying’ arts project off the ground

An exciting arts project to get teenagers and their parents ‘flying’ together inside a school has got off the ground, thanks to £500 funding by South Norfolk Council.

The project - which took place at Long Stratton High School from 28 April to 2 May – involved intensive workshops for 30 teenagers and their parents involving dance, movement, physical theatre, Astanga yoga and ‘aerial’ flying skills.

The workshops are run by the Scarabeus Theatre with Jeanefer Jean-Charles of Dads and Lads Move .

It is all part of a national programme of five residences funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, using performance techniques to get young people, parents and carers working together.

Daniela Essart, Artistic Director of the project said:

“We promote physical and artistic skills, build trust and communication, explore personal identity and what brings families together and draws them apart. But above all, the workshops are about having some serious fun, having a sense of achievement and feeling good in a safe environment.

“We use harnesses like the ones usually worn by climbers and cocoons made from elasticated fabric to ‘fly’ those taking part.

“We want the young people and their parents to feel exhilaration, adrenaline rushes, fear, laughter and excitement as they fly around or move on the ground.”

At the end of the project, Scarabeus will publish a report examining the impact of this national project on young people and their families.

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• Scarabeus Theatre

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