The Delight in Dance programme

In 2019, we were approached by Delight about working collaboratively to devise a new Delight in Dance programme aimed initially at year 2, and now at year 3 and 4 primary school children at selected primary schools in Surrey and Croydon.

Find out more about the project on the Delight website here.

The Delight in Dance programme uses dance and movement as a way of learning how to build a story. The programme is designed to strengthen children’s educational and social outcomes along with encouraging participation in dance. It is aimed primarily at children who may not usually engage with their local library service, and encourages them to find out more about the imaginative possibilities of the library space.

Children visit their local library at the beginning of a half term and see a professional dance performance called The Story Detectives. After this, they work together with Katie Green, performers from the show and a team of other Delight in Dance teachers to create their own response to The Story Detectives. At the end of the half term they perform their own work for their friends and family, celebrating everything they have learnt, with the option of achieving a Discover Arts Award qualification through the programme.

The Delight in Dance project was devised in 2019, originally created at Guildford Library, and developed through collaboration with year 2 children from Weyfield Primary School, Guildford. It was developed in 2020 with support from the Heathrow Community Fund and the National Lottery through Arts Council England. 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we adapted the Delight in Dance project so that it can be delivered remotely, in person, or a combination of the two, and commissioned film director Josh Thompson to create a 30 minute The Story Detectives film that we can use as part of this adapted programme.

Creative team

Directed by Katie Green

Choreographed and performed by Amarnah Amuludun and Hannah Rotchell (2019), joined by Megan Griffiths and Chloe Mead in 2020

Writing: Anna Selby

Original Composition: Max Perryment

Design: Chloe Mead

Additional design consultation: Lucy Starkey

Developed in consultation with Kathryn Mills and Jessica Clarke from Delight.

About Delight

Delight creates intensive arts programmes to increase the social, academic and artistic development of primary aged children.

Delight co-creates its arts programmes with arts partners and works in close partnership with selected primary schools across Surrey.

A group of primary school children perform their Villain dance in front of a blue backdrop covered with silver stars. The children all reach forward strongly with their arms, and they all wear black villain capes trimmed with yellow.
A group of school children perform their heroes and villains dance in their school hall, for an audience of their friends and family. They are all dressed in red with blue capes if they are heroes, or in blacks and greys if they are villains.
A group of school children rehearse their heroes and villains dance in their school hall with two of their teachers, all caught up in an imaginary battle between the forces of good and evil.
The library visit was a big hit with my class. The children absolutely loved the performance and were mesmerised by the dance movements of the two brilliant artists. The overall experience was thrilling, enjoyable and most importantly, extremely interactive.
Teacher from partner primary school, Spelthorne,

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