News The Great Train Dance Review

We’re really pleased to finally get our hands on Dancescene’s review of Rosie Kay Dance Company's The Great Train Dance, which took to the Severn Valley Railway on the 23rd July 2011.

dx’s Associate Artist Rosie Kay and her company of professional dancers worked with community and youth groups across the West Midlands, to transform the Severn Valley Railway into a magical experience with a puzzle to solve.

In the months before the performance Rosie Kay worked with ten dance leaders from Shropshire, Worcestershire and the Black Country to deliver dance and choreographic training, enabling the leaders to deliver sessions to young people within their local area. These young people were then given the opportunity to perform alongside Rosie Kay’s professional dance company in two finale performances on the Severn Valley Railway.

In addition Rosie Kay, who is also the Subject Leader for the contemporary strand of the Centre for Advanced Training programme at dx, worked with the students and the professional company to create the main narrative which followed the story of young girl Nellie, who meets a mysterious boy on the station platform.

We were particularly pleased to see our Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) students who get a prominent mention.     

We spoke to some of our students to get their thoughts on taking part in the project. Emily, 15, has been on the CAT programme since the pilot year in Jan 2009. Emily, who played the main character of Nellie said, “it was a once in a life time opportunity that I wouldn’t have missed for the world. The people I met and worked with were so friendly and inspirational and the rehearsals were technically and physically challenging. I feel I have improved as a dancer and get an insight into the dance industry”. 

Rob, 17, who has been on the CAT programme since Sept 2009, commented on how his experiences have helped him, "as well as technique, the rehearsals with professional dancers really helped me understand the process and prepare for performance’".

Read the full review of The Great Train Dance

Watch a short video of The Great Train Dance performance

Learn more about the Centre for Advanced Training

Credit Brian Slater, dancers named in photos: Rosie Kay Dance Company