Tradamis

Traditional Music and Dance In Schools

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Booking inquiries, book & cd orders

0118 947 4244

Maypole orders  01727 831917

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A New Approach to Traditional Dance and Music

Tradamis provides what schools and colleges need.
We provide specific teaching modules or customised packages with relevant back up resources.

In many cases teaching sessions include placing the dance and music into social and historical context and introducing cross-curricular links.

A session lead by Tradamis provides the opportunity for students to experience

Music, History, Dance, Physical Exercise, Team work, Collaborative creativity

The "feel" of a specific period of history, brought to life through music, dance, costumes, stories and  multi media presentation

an inclusive learning experience:

• The teaching package will  be tailored to your requirements to suit any age range and ability level.

• Dances have been successfully adapted to include wheelchair users.

a showcase performance of traditional song, dance and music to excite and inspire students of all ages.

back-up resources:

• Dance descriptions

• Music

• Song lyrics

• Costume design

• Historical background

curriculum enrichment opportunities during classroom teachers' PPA time

About Tradamis

Tradamis was set up in 2002 to exploit with the work that was in prospect from the newly formed Slough Creative Partnership and we delivered three major projects for 5 schools using 10 different practitioners to a value of about £7500.  Since then our work has developed to not only include more project work but single days teaching of specific modules including many for special needs, teacher training, the production of resources, profile raising events at museums, art galleries and festivals. 

The organisation was originally 5 freelance practitioners and with a few changes in personnel it has stayed the same size but with a far wider network of individuals to call on for different events.  The second phase of our existence involved the conversion to a Registered Charity, the creation of our first web site with its ambitious database and our establishment as the place to come to for anything to do with Maypoles.  In 2007 we have delivered over 40 days of teaching so far.

Our Objective is now defined to the Charity Commission as follows

To promote the education of children and young people by the provision of services, resources and equipment to enhance their knowledge, appreciation and understanding of English Traditional music, dance and cultural issues.

And in the same document our activities are outlined as

• The provision of teaching and resources to schools through teaching sessions, workshops, concerts and possibly residencies.  The creation and publication of resources to supplement this work.  The provision of events for young people and community groups

• The teaching to look at traditional, cultural and vernacular arts, our living heritage and its links to historical events and related recreational activities.

• The provision of specialist teachers and resources to other organisations for major projects that they are running

• The involvement of freelance practitioners and other organisations in our own projects

What We Have Done – Highlights

Projects

• 3 Slough Schools – Spring 03 Phase 1 of a 4 phase project for Slough Grammar, Beechwood & Wexham Court Schools involving English, Japanese, African & Street Dance – sadly phases 2-5 never happened

• Langley Grammar School– July 03 Four days of dance & music teaching involving 10 practitioners & 60 students producing a show of social & ritual dance from medieval onwards with the students playing the music and adding their own creativity

• St Bernards School, Slough – 2004. Creation of a Key Stage 3 country dance resource incorporating the students own dances

• Trafalgar – 2005. Collaboration with HMS Victory to produce a resource pack including songs, dances, music (with arrangements) and costume ideas

• Chatham – 2006. Tudor Day involving dance, music, herbalism and creative arts

• Ansley Common – Oct 06. Provision of teaching and music for a school centenary dvd project

• Toynbee School – Jan/Feb 2007. Teaching of dances & music from the Thomas hardy period for inclusion in a production of A Winter’s Tale for the Shakespeare Schools Festival

• Stone Market Traders – Feb/Mar 07 teaching and facilitating the production of a Maypole Dance event to take place in the town later in the year.

• Fusion Dance Company – March 07 Teaching of Morris dances and creation of a morris/street dance item for major event in Slough

• The Tudors – Nov 06 ongoing. A joint project with Stevenage Museum and Nonsuch History and Dance to use Peggy Dixons research material in schools and the community to produce a new resource including a simplified form of the Laban notation

• Victorians at Work and Play – Mar 07 ongoing. Working with Hughenden Manor to produce an outreach module and resource that links directly with the life and times of Disraeli and local events, industry and festivities

Modules

• Maypole, suitable for all ages from reception onwards and special needs.  Provision of Maypoles, ribbons, resources as well as teaching.

• Tudor – dances and music for the curriculum or for dramatic productions with showcase performances if required

• Country Dance & Create your Own Barn Dance

• Clog & Percussive Dance

• Morris including Cotswold, Border and North West styles

• Longsword

• Introduction to Folk Music of the British Isles

• Trafalgar & the Regency - Dance, Music and Song from the period

•  The Victorians at Work and Play

 Events

• Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich 05 & 06 – Major May Day event with thousands of participants, providing Large Maypole, Costumed performers, Music, Teaching and volunteer helpers

• Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture – May 05. Provision of Maypole and teaching to  enable the museum to include maypole dancing in their Bank Holiday event

• Trafalgar Despatches – Oct 05. Provision of costumed dancers and musician to celebrate the double centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar in Andover

• Oak House – Sandwell – Jul 05 & Feb 06.  After a Tudor dance teaching day a return visit to teach the staff and volunteers so they could include it in their programmes

• Geffrye Museum – May 06. Provision of Maypole Teaching and Music

• Chippenham Festival – May 06 & 07.  Provision of teaching and ideas in 06 led to full involvement in the Festival with workshops on Maypole for Adults, Fit for Dance and Tudor Dancing  Provisionally re-booked for 2008

• Oxford Castle Unlocked – May 07 Provision of Maypole Teaching and Music

• Hughenden Manor – June & Sept 07 Showcase events for the Victorian project involving songs, music and clog dancing 

Teacher Training

We have done many inset days or evening sessions, predominantly but not exclusively on Maypole Dancing.  In addition we go in around 3 times a year to Kingston University to introduce different groups of student teachers to Maypole & Country Dancing and tell them of the available resources from EFDSS, the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library and Tradamis.

Special Needs Teaching

 An increasing aspect of our work collaborating with Thanet College (involved teacher training as well), Arbourvale School in Slough, Jack Tizard School in Shepherd’s Bush, Beechwood School in Dunstable and Woodfield School in Merstham