Tuesday, November 17, 2009

New Expressions at Oak Lodge




Leading Edge dance and musical theatre specialist Lorraine Woodley has been working with Oak Lodge, a School for deaf students between the ages of 11 and 19. Lorraine says she first got in touch with them when she was asked to manage the BRIT school's Festival Week for Musical Theatre in 2008 and decided she would like the opening song to be ‘signed’.
Lorraine has been working with Oak Lodge teaching them choreography and technique. Lorraine says
" I thought that basic Laban notation symbols would be a good way to interact so I used that to help them learn a few basic skills, particularly how to communicate emotion through travel, signing and symbols".
At Oak Lodge the students have previously only copied people and this method allowed them to express themselves. " I wanted Oak Lodge to understand how important it is to have Dance education because physical expression is important in helping students develop their confidence and self esteem."

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