KICK-START - Dance at the School of Sport and Service Management

The KICK-START dance company was formed in 1999 by principal lecturer Fiona Smith.

All members are physical education teacher training students based at the School of Sport and Service Management. With its strap line 'muscular artistry' it is the unique combination of sporting prowess and aptitude in dance that is at the root of the company's success.

The work of the company is based on four core beliefs:

• dance is a distinctive area of experience which offers unique and valuable learning opportunities. The rewards of participation in dance are the same regardless of gender
• male physical education teachers are significant and influential role models with the potential to impact on boys' attitudes and participation in dance
• masculinity is a broad and inclusive concept which can embrace dance
• a high quality dance experience is one that challenges pupils artistically as well as physically.

School workshop and residences

A major part of the company’s work is the invitations it receives to perform and lead workshops within schools, locally, regionally and nationally. The company performs to individual classes, year groups and entire schools. Teaching work ranges from singles classes, designed to motivate and inspire groups, to residences where the group work on reconstructions of the company repertoire or the creation of new work for performance, with extracurricular clubs and school performance groups. The company also offers continual professional development events for teachers.

Conferences and events

In addition to its school work, KICK-START perform at art festivals, regional dance platforms and educational conferences.

After KICK-START

Over 80 members have graduated from the University of Brighton. The impact of these individuals has been highly significant. All have gained employment in schools and colleges across the UK physical education teachers or school sport coordinators. Many have been employed to either introduce or raise the profile of dance within their school.

Some have gone on to establish their own all male performance groups, modeling themselves on KICK-START.

"Faced with this highly athletic and accessible group of guys, any reservations the boys had about dance simply fell away."
Head of Performing Arts, Windsor Boys School, Berkshire.

KICK-START Gallery

Carter School

Cologne