Diwali Workshops:
Dance and Drama


Reception - Year 6
Led by a professional dancer/actor-facilitator
Religious Education, World Around Us
Free teacher resources
Delivered in your school hall

Bring all the energy of Diwali into your primary school

Celebrate Diwali with a dance or drama workshop exploring the Ramayana story - both perfect for Diwali which will be celebrated 29 October - 3 November this year!

The Ramayana is the most well known story told during Diwali celebrations. The great Hindu epic story about prince Rama and his wife Sita has been shared orally and through dance for centuries.

In our Diwali workshops, children use their imaginations to physically retell the epic tale, from making the sounds and shapes of the forest, to lighting the lamps that guide Rama and Sita home. Led by a professional actor or dancer, children work together and have fun, whilst improving both their cultural understanding and confidence in creative expression.

Two energising Diwali workshops - which should you choose?

You don’t need to decide before enquiring, we can help you make the best choice for your school!

Diwali Dance
- a great use of your sports premium budget! Children vividly imagine, explore and retell the story through movement, creating an energising 2 minute dance which is performed at the end of the session.

New! Diwali Drama - children step into the world of the Ramayana, using soundscapes, storytelling and drama techniques to explore the characters and themes of the story.

Free accompanying teacher resources for both workshopsare also available to download.

Created by: Sita Thomas
Music by: Danyal Dhondy
Find out more about our creatives.

 


We will send you a suggested timetable when you enquire and we can work with you to create a timetable that works for your school day.

The Ramayana Diwali Dance Workshop
  • We work with classes from Reception to Year 6 for sessions between 35 and 50 minutes.
  • Nursery classes can also have 30 minute 'taster' sessions.
  • We can run up to seven 35 minute sessions per day. To work with fewer classes we can visit for just an afternoon or morning session. To work with more than seven classes we can visit across multiple days.
  • Each individual session closes with a two-minute dance performance for the teacher.

The Diwali Story Ramayana Drama Workshop
  • We work with classes from Reception to Year 6 for sessions between 35 and 90 minutes.
  • Nursery classes can have 30 minute 'taster' sessions.
  • We can run up to six sessions per day. To work with fewer classes we can visit for just an afternoon or morning session. To work with more than seven classes we can visit across multiple days.
All workshop sessions are for up to 30 children.


The Ramayana Diwali Dance Workshop
  • To develop an understanding of the most well known story behind Diwali by recreating the narrative from start to finish.
  • To gain confidence in physical literacy and explore how physical vocabulary can express emotion.
  • To develop creative ownership and the imagination by working alongside a professional dancer-choreographer.
  • To improve cultural understanding by exploring this important literary work.

The Diwali Story Ramayana Drama Workshop
  • To develop an understanding of the most well known story behind Diwali by recreating the narrative from start to finish.
  • To gain confidence in creative expression, using a range of drama techniques.
  • To develop creative ownership and the imagination by working alongside a professional actor-facilitator.
  • To improve understanding of the story's cross-cultural themes like the power of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance and freedom over oppression.



When you book you will receive a link to a full pack of supporting teacher resources that can be used before or after the workshop. Take a look at a preview of that resource or head to our blog for more ideas for using dance and drama in the primary classroom.
 

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