VE Day 80th Celebrations Tea Dance workshops with schools around Berwick
Over 200 school pupils from Berwick-upon-Tweed collaborated with creatives and subject experts to explore WWII and the significance of VE Day through two interactive workshops. The first, an in-school session, focused on life during the war both at home and abroad. The second, a Tea Dance workshop held at The Gymnasium Gallery, brought history to life through movement, as pupils learned two classic 1930s dances. This engaging approach not only commemorated the 80th anniversary of VE Day but also reinforced classroom learning in a dynamic and memorable way.
Timeline
April 2025- May 2025
Project Partners
Artists
Oli Brooks – Dance Artist and Choreographer
Organisations
The Maltings (Berwick) Trust
Berwick Record Office
King’s Own Scottish Borderers Museum
Schools Involved
- Allendale Primary School
- Scremerston School
- Berwick Middle School
- Tweedmouth West First School
- St Mary’s First School (Berwick)
- Holy Trinity C of E First School
- Spittal Community First School
- St Mary’s First School (Norham)
- St Cuthbert’s First School
- The Grove SEND School
- Tweedmouth Prior Park First School
Key Goals
- To increase pupils’ understanding of WWII history
- To celebrate VE Day 80th Anniversary in an engaging and interactive manner
- To build stronger connections between schools and local artists
- To allow pupils to have an opportunity to be creative with movement
The Maltings (Berwick) Trust’s creative engagement team delivered a series of workshops through April to May, working alongside Living Barracks Partners Berwick Archivist, Linda Bankier and King’s Own Scottish Borderers’ Veteran, Education and Outreach Officer, Peter McCutcheon.
The Dance workshops were delivered by West End performer Oli Brooks, and the team engaged with 10 local schools in a participatory workshop programme to commemorate VE Day 80th anniversary and inspire learning about WWII. The workshops were adapted towards the level of ability, and included pupils with additional support needs, ranging through the different year groups resulting in each class receiving a tailored educational experience. Despite initial time constraints, the collaboration was highly successful and led to pupils learning and engaging in with topic and with dance in a practical and interactive manner.
Outcomes
Over 210 pupils participated in the VE Day workshops
Increased student confidence in discussing topics relating to WWII
Strengthened links between the schools and local artists
Over 210 pupils learned a new skill of tea dancing
Impact
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