High-flyers! Hungerford primary kids take to the air in scheme to promote wellbeing -
Published: 21 May 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM
CHILDREN spun themselves into cocoons and flew like birds at Hungerford Primary School in Holloway on Tuesday.
They swung into action as part of Airborne Families, a programme led by dance and theatre company Scarabeus, backed by cash from the Big Lottery Fund, which aims to improve self-confidence and physical and mental wellbeing among children and their parents.
Strapped into harnesses, pupils from nearby special school The Bridge “flew”, while others took part in yoga sessions and learned about mime.
The scheme, which has been operating exclusively in Islington for a year, involves early years, primary, secondary and special needs pupils at schools across the borough.
Scarabeus, which means scarab beetle, have been putting on daredevil “aerial dance” shows – scaling tall buildings and hanging off trees – for 22 years, but artistic director Daniela Essart said educational programmes now make up 70 per cent of the company’s work.
“Around six years ago we made a commitment to work with the community,” she said.
“We transferred some of the techniques that we used in our performances to the framework of educational programmes.”
It offers an innovative way of dealing with problems such as anti-social behaviour and attention deficit disorder among children and teenagers, Ms Essart said.
She added: “The programme unlocks learning and promotes wellbeing, but not in the usual way.
“We start with activities that bring the body to a calm and peaceful state rather than an aggressive one.”