WCED Dance Showcase
31 October 2019
The first Western Cape Education Department (WCED) Senior Phase Dance Showcase took place on 19 October 2019 at The Settlers High School in Bellville where 317 Senior Phase learners from 24 schools displayed their extraordinary dance talent.
As part of the subject Creative Arts: Dance these learners were tasked to explore the topics: dance improvisation, composition, performance and theory, and with their teachers they had to create a unique and newly choreographed dance piece according to the theme ‘My Roots are in Dance’.
The learners are taught by WCED itinerant Dance Teachers.
For many learners it was their first time to dance on a stage with a professional lighting and sound crew. The Settlers High School’s prefects and Usher Committee supported the dancers by providing backstage and front-of-house support. A huge shout out to these learners from The Settlers High School who ensured that the programme ran smoothly.
Hugo Smuts, Deputy Principal at The Settlers High School was responsible for pulling all the various creative and technical strings together. He ensured all technical matters combined seamlessly into a truly professional dance production.
The finale was a mass dance performance by all 317 participating learners.
Apart from the varied and high quality dance performances, a highlight was when Jennifer van Papendorp, a dance educationist, lecturer, curriculum planner, writer and arts administrator, was honoured with the WCED GET Curriculum Lifetime Achievement in Dance Education award. Van Papendorp served education for many years as Senior Curriculum Planner in Arts and Culture and Dance Studies.
The Dance Showcase is the result of collaboration between The Settlers High School and the GET Curriculum Directorate and again proof that through synergy and collaboration one can achieve unexpected outcomes that speak of creativity and innovation.
Jonathan Jonkers at Edumedia was responsible for the design and branding of this project.
Misha Jordaan was the photographer.
