Just before schools closed in March, a group of children from Years 2 – 6 took part in the U Dance Cumbria Festival at the Carnegie Theatre, Workington.

U Dance supports schools to create high quality, creative dance within the curriculum and to celebrate this through performance. Lorton School takes part every other year – this was our seventh time!

To fit with our curriculum topics, Mrs Scales, our PE teacher, decided to use the book, ‘Greta and the Giants’ as her stimulus for the dance.

Dressed simply, in black and green, the children were the animals, plants and trees of a forest. They were living harmoniously together until the Giants came along and began destroying their habitat. ‘Lumbering Oafs’ entered the scene with chainsaws, destroying everything in their sight. Before long, the forests were flattened and houses and buildings erected in their place.

Greta, in her trademark yellow raincoat, then appeared, urging the audience to act now for Climate Change.

Whilst learning about ways in which we can help to protect out world, the children were also learning about how to choreograph their own dance, teamwork and commitment. Performing it in a real theatre to a large audience was the icing on the cake – an experience they thoroughly enjoyed and one that they will cherish forever.

The morning after the performance, children told us that they felt inspired!