Children in Years 1 and 2 revelled in the space and freedom provided by West Wittering which provided the perfect setting for a wonderful art and dance experience inspired by artist and teacher Mrs Ashley Brian and dance and drama teacher Mrs Hillier. Collecting stones of different colours, shells, seaweed and driftwood to create a collage on the beach, fascinated the children and they began to understand for themselves what has inspired artists like Goldsworthy. Stones with sparkly centres, some smooth and worn with holes in the middle, became precious treasures and brought home the amazing diversity of natural objects. Shape, colour and texture were brought to life as the collage took shape. As the clouds thinned and the sun shone, many questions were raised by the dramatically changing seascape.’ Why is the sea so blue now’? Why is it so sparkly’? ‘How does the tide go out’?

People walking along the beach stopped and watched as individual groups of children practised movements representing the sea, sun and the moon. To the onlookers delight a series of choreographed movements became a dance, each group playing a special part. A real sense of the forces of nature was represented as finally the whole dance was performed and children and teachers sung ‘The Lord of The Dance’. Creating something together in such beautiful surroundings will be remembered by both the adults and the children who shared the experience.

Maureen Jeffery, Lower Prep Coordinator