Bedales Students ‘Crazy Hair’ week in Dubai
About Bedales
Bedales Students ‘Crazy Hair’ week in Dubai
08/02/2011
Sixth form students from Bedales School took a physical theatre adaptation of children’s book ‘Crazy Hair’ to Dubai recently as part of an annual exchange trip to Dubai College. Every year Bedales students and Dubai College students get together to share lessons in dance and performing arts through a special week long programme of workshops and performances. The exchange alternates every year and this time it was Bedales’ turn to visit the sunnier climes of Dubai.
The 10 students from Bedales practiced hard in preparation for the trip and were delighted that their performance was received so well by their Dubai counterparts. Performing seven shows throughout the week, the students had an intensive dance/drama experience but also enjoyed watching the Dubai College students’ A level performance and music concert performed in the College’s new theatre.
The ‘Crazy Hair’ show was a 30 minute piece of physical theatre devised by the students and Bedales drama teacher Steve Gardner. The story follows the journey of Bonnie through the world of crazy hair, meeting pirates, gorillas, balloons, dancers and butterflies, and learns that it is alright to be different. The students’ representation of this story featured unique drama and dance routines, music and props.
Students were accompanied by Bedales Head of Dance, Jo Alldridge and Drama Teacher Jenni Brittain, both who assisted with choreography and ran several creative workshops.
In between performances and workshops the students experienced life in Dubai with visits to the local museum, the desert, a trip in an ‘abra’ boat over the Dubai creek, the gold souks and the Palm Island.
Commenting on the visit, Jo Alldridge, said: “We have a special relationship with Dubai College and students really benefit from the exchange, which is now in its 20th year. The College is one of the longest established schools in Dubai and runs a British curriculum with students from 40 nationalities. It will be our turn to host later this year and we plan to perform at local schools in the Petersfield area.”
Once they had returned to Bedales, the students performed Crazy Hair to the very young children of Bedales pre-prep school, Dunannie, (Years 1,2 and 3) who were entranced and amused by all the different characters in the story.
