The organisers of the festival have started to encourage schools to talk about their work and, after each dance, pupils are asked to reflect on some aspect of the performance they have seen. While a group performed the audience was always silent, bursting into spontaneous applause at the end of each performance. The schools that enter are nearly always well supported and encouraged by the headteacher. Much of the work is connected with the whole class and taught in curriculum time, often over a whole term. A great deal of lesson time has been given to creating, selecting and refining motifs and whole dances.
Teachers have clear ideas as to the desired outcome and patiently guide the pupils to that end.
I would like to think that the in-service training led by Alan Jenner, Bobbie Gargrave and Daria Wignal also has had an impact on the quality of performance over the last few years. Everyone who took part knows how special the experience was and how important it is to continue.