Students from schools across our Trust took to the stage at Rotherham Civic Theatre as part of the Reach Movement Festival 2026, joining more than 500 young performers in a celebration of dance, storytelling and reading.
The festival brought together children from 22 primary schools, two secondary schools and three external dance schools, with performances inspired by books, characters and stories.
Thanks to our long-standing partnership with Rotherham School Games, and their collaboration with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, Flux and the National Year of Reading 2026, our students were able to take part in an event that celebrated reading through dance while inspiring creativity and self-expression.
The Reach Movement Festival began in 2024 and, backed by the Children’s Capital of Culture, has grown into a two-day festival that now offers even more opportunities for students to rehearse, choreograph and perform.
As part of this year’s programme, students also took part in a dance workshop led by Gemini Dance, heard from professionals at Hype Dance about careers in the creative industries and explored a range of pathways including choreography, performance, costume design and stage direction.
These experiences reflect our commitment to providing every child with a range of enrichment opportunities that broaden horizons beyond the classroom. This particular event also complemented our WPT Careers Curriculum, helping students to see how their interests and talents can lead to exciting future pathways.
Chloe Turton, School Games Admin, said: “By connecting dance with storytelling and reading, we’re helping children develop imagination, emotional understanding and a strong sense of voice through the arts.
“The event aimed to inspire children and young people to engage with dance while also introducing them to the fantastic Rotherham Civic Theatre, an important local venue right on their doorstep.”
We know how much passion and hard work went into each performance, and we’re super proud of all the students who represented their schools and our Trust so brilliantly.
