Professional dancer and choreographer Malachi Spaulding visits Fairfield

The Performing Arts Department were thrilled to be able to offer students the chance to participate in a workshop with professional dancer and choreographer Malachi Spaulding.

Malachi Spaulding is The Founder and Artistic Director of Shanturia Dance Theatre and trained at the Ballet Rambert School and the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. His professional credits Include performing in the West End Show the “Lion King”, as a soloist with the Vienna Festival Ballet Company and a backing dancer for Kylie Minogue.

Malachi has also performed as an actor in theatre production “Pepper Soup” which was performed at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith.

The three day residency included 2 hour dance and drama workshops for Year 7, 8 and 9 students where they learnt technique classes focusing on African and Caribbean dance with physical theatre skills. They also attended a careers talk where they had the chance to learn about Malachi’s routes into the professional world of theatre and ask him questions about his experience of dancing in the Lion King and with Kylie Minogue! They asked some fantastic questions and were truly inspired by his work and passion for theatre. They even asked for his autograph at the end of the day!

Our GCSE Dance and Drama students also took part in a two hour workshop where Malachi focussed on the performance skills required to achieve the Grade 9 in final performances focussing on the assessment criteria of the GCSE specifications.

Julia – I really enjoyed doing the workshop and it inspired me to do the things I love

Eliza – It was so interesting to hear from a professional dancer!

Head of Performing Arts, Natalie Thompson said: ‘it was such an incredible opportunity for our students, and for us as teachers! I am so proud to work in a school which truly values the arts and the power of theatre.’