To celebrate Northern Ballet’s magical ballet for children Elves and The Shoemaker, the Grand Theatre helped to organise special workshops facilitated by Family Learning, Blackpool Library Service, children centres and pre-school groups. These workshops were run by Sam Carruthers, who is the Northern Ballet Dance Education Officer.

On Tuesday 12 May one of these workshops was held at Devonshire School with children from the early years. Children who took part were told the story of the Elves and The Shoemaker, shown production images from the show and introduced to how a story can be told through dance alone. The children who participated had plenty of fun re-creating the different scenes and dressing up in magical outfits!

Jackie Simpson from Family Learning said:

“Thanks you for this wonderful opportunity. Sam did a fantastic job of engaging with our families through story, drama and dance and our children, parents and staff thoroughly enjoyed the workshop.”

Sam Carruthers, who led the workshops said:

“Everyone has been involved and the support has been fantastic. All the children have been great and really engaged. The teachers are engaged and just as excited as the kids.”
Here are just some of the wonderful things the children who took part had to say about the day:

“I liked the magic puddle.” Blake

“It was funny being cheeky elves.” Annabelle

“I liked everything.” Teagan

“There was a magic bag with fairy dust.” Amy

“It was nice. My favourite bit was all the dancing.” Gracie

“I loved being cheeky.” Melissa

“It was funny pulling faces.” Ronin

“It was fun, I loved skipping.” Sophie

“It was brilliant.” Ellie May

Their teacher Mrs McNab said that the workshop was:

“A magical experience, the children loved every moment.”

We’d like to say a big THANK YOU to all the children who took part and the teachers & adults who made the workshops happen and helped these children experience their first taste of dance and theatre.

Look out for more special workshops run by the Grand Theatre with future children’s dance and educational shows.