Phoenix Raises Higher - Wakefield College

At Wakefield College, our ‘Aimhigher’ and ‘Widening Participation’ staff work together to raise student awareness of Higher Education. A wide range of activities are used to engage and motivate students who have the potential to enter higher education. Students who have no family experience of higher education or university are given tailored guidance and offered the opportunity to raise their aspirations through the use of educational workshops and events.
Widening Participation addresses the large discrepancies in the take-up of higher education opportunities between different social groups. We are committed to ensuring that all our Higher Education courses offer equality of opportunity for disabled students, young or mature students, women and men, and all ethnic groups.

‘Phoenix Dance Theatre, one of Britain’s leading contemporary dance companies is committed to widending access to dance through their Education and Audience Development Programme.’

'I really enjoyed the experience of the Phoenix Dance Company coming to spend a day doing a workshop with us. With not having any experience apart from GCSE dance in the style of contemporary dance, I was expecting the workshop to be boring, but I found it fun and helpful for my dancing in the future. I think the experience has made me understand that I would like to stay on in education doing dance.' Sophia Kershaw

As part of its Dance Development Programme, Wakefield College, in partnership with internationally renowned dance company Phoenix Dance Theatre, hosted workshops for students to explore contemporary dance techniques at the College’s Thornes Park Campus.
Aimhigher students from local schools including Horbury, Freeston, City High and Carleton joined the College’s Dance students to learn about the modern choreography techniques that professional instructors from the Leeds based dance company have used to position it as one of the UK’s leading Dance Theatres.
Programme Area Manager for Performing Arts, Tina Shuker, said, “We are thrilled to have such a prestigious name like Phoenix Dance Theatre come to Wakefield College. This really was a great opportunity for all students involved; they had a fantastic time working with professionals of the highest calibre. The school students also had the chance to check out the excellent facilities and expertise we have to offer here at the College.”
A spokesperson from Phoenix said, “Phoenix Dance Theatre is committed to widening access to dance through our Education and Audience Development Programme. Our members have undertaken education work throughout our 25 year history. Collaborative projects such as this aim to promote participation in the arts as a stimulating and creative pursuit within college and community settings. All the students were full of enthusiasm and we are confident that all the students learnt a great deal from the workshops we had to offer.”
If you would like more information on Aimhigher please e-mail: c.o'brien@wakefield.ac.uk
For Widening Participation please e-mail a.cawtheray@wakefield.ac.uk

For more information on future Performing Arts Events please e-mail: t.shuker@wakefield.ac.uk