Magic Bus Collaborates with International Dance School Tutus and Tiaras Conducted a Dance Workshop

by Shrutee K/DNS

Thane, Maharashtra: Magic Bus India Foundation together with International Dance School Tutus and Tiaras, conducted a dance workshop with 30 children from marginalized communities in Kalwa, Thane, to promote gender equality among the children. The group were trained by 5 international dance teachers from Singapore, New York and the UK, in a four-day workshop.

                             

Magic Bus, through its Childhood to Livelihood programme uses engaging mediums like sports based activities to equip children and young people on the programme with the life skills they need to battle everyday challenges and move out of poverty. These life skills also help children in the programme battle gender discrimination they are faced with in the community, helping prevent early child marriages and other issues plaguing girls. They also learn to respect one another, during an activity session, treating the other as an equal and as a friend, respecting the skill they bring to the game. Through seeing one another as equals, a circle of trust is created and life-long friendships built. Tutus and Tiaras aim with this project is to spread awareness of the work Magic Bus does and highlight the power of Dance and the Arts in changing mind set.

Expressing his delight at being able to work with the children, Andy Martin said, “We wanted to do this primarily to promote gender equality through dance. But to gain equality you have to work across the board to make a change. Through the workshop we have been teaching these young girls and boys, ensuring we reach out to all, to make a difference towards eliminating gender biases.”

Jayant Rastogi, CEO Magic Bus Global, said, “Equality between genders demands a change in mindset from childhood. If children today can value one another without bias, they grow to become individuals who can own their space and be able to fight perils of gender discrimination in the communities they live in. We can then ensure we are helping a generation delay their age at marriage, complete their secondary education and have a secure career in the organized sector making them economically self-reliant. ”

About Magic Bus

In the last six years alone, Magic Bus has transformed almost a million children and young people, helping them move out of poverty. Magic Bus is one of the largest poverty alleviation programmes in India, impacting more than 3,75,000 children and young people in 22 States and 77 districts of India in FY 17-18. Since the Livelihood programme began in 2015, we have placed 10,000 young people in jobs in the organized sector. The sports activity-based sessions are carried out across more than 798 schools. Magic Bus works with children and young people living in poverty, taking them from a childhood full of challenges to a life with meaningful livelihoods. Magic Bus equips young people with the skills and knowledge they need to grow up and move out of poverty. We also work in Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

About Tutus and Tiaras Team

KIMBERLEY MARTIN, PRINCIPAL: Kimberley started dancing at the age of 3 in her hometown of Exmouth, Devon in the UK. At the age of 15 she won a place in the Senior Associates at Central Ballet School, London and went on to full time vocational education at Northern Ballet School, Manchester where she studied Classical Ballet, Musical Theatre, Music, History of Dance, and Stage Management. She has completed advanced exams in ballet (R.A.D, I.S.T.D), Tap (I.S.T.D) and Modern (I.S.T.D) and is currently an affiliate member with the Australian Teachers of Dancing (A.T.O.D). ? A strong believer is continuous professional development; Kimberley has recently embarked on a Level 6 Dance Teaching Diploma with the prestigious Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London which she will complete next year. Kimberley has performed in many productions for stage as well as TV appearances and dance competitions across the UK. In 2015 Kimberley began her new dance adventure? Tutus and Tiaras where she aims to share her passion for dance in a safe and fun environment with young dancers across the Island!

CLARE TAY: Clare started dancing at the age of 13 and has been exposed to different dance forms. Driven by a strong passion for dance, she resigned from her full time job to pursue dance as a career. She has been teaching, choreographing and performing for more than 15 years. ? Teaching has been especially fulfilling for her as she enjoys watching her students grow under her mentorship. She teaches all ages from as young as 3 years old up to adults who are willing to learn how to dance. She hopes that her students will grow to love dance through her teaching.

NICOLA CIOTTA - From the age of 12 Nicola trained at the lower school division of Northern Ballet School, Manchester and at 16 she was awarded a Lottery Funded Arts Scholarship for their Full-Time college program. She graduated with teaching qualifications with the ISTD and the RAD and with a dance contract with Costa Cruise lines as part of their first In-House Production team. After a successful career as a dancer working all over the World with Legends, Showstoppers, Thursford Christmas Spectacular and Moore Entertainment to name a few and TV credits with the BBC, she settled in New York. After furthering her training at the Broadway Dance Centre and teaching locally, her daughters birth inspired her to start her own company with toddlers in mind. Now in its 4th year, Baby Ballet Long Island is one of Long Islands top rated Mommy and Me programs. A.I.S.T.D, STC RAD.

KATHIE TIFFANY - A.I.S.T.D. A.R.A.D, BA (HONS) Photography, Honoured a CF in 2008 Kathie has been dancing since the age four, R.A.D, ISTD trained and qualified. She has been awarded many scholarships and bursaries for her training in the UK including the JA Royal Ballet school programme and a full bursary for Northern Ballet School. After qualifying with Northern Ballet School in Manchester as a dancer and teacher of dance she went on to teach at Northern Dance centre in Yorkshire for many years teaching a range of dance styles, exam coaching and choreography for large shows. In 2008 her dancing took her around the world travelling to thirteen top prestigious schools to observe and document dance and injury prevention. On occasion teach as an international teacher within the schools. Whilst continuing teaching, she gained her degree in photography and fine art, which has led to some commissioned work with dance  establishments including Northern Ballet Theatre. 

JANE NOEL - Jane works for Miss Kimberley at Tutus and Tiaras Dance School where she teaches children ballet between the ages of 2.5yrs to 8yrs old, using the Australian Teacher of Dancing syllabus (ATOD).  She started ballet at a young age and at 9 won a place at the well renowned dance school, The Arts Educational School in Tring, where she completed advanced exams in Ballet, Tap and Modern Dance (RAD & ISTD). Under their guidance and tutelage Jane went on to dance in The Nutcracker with the English National Ballet Company, and was choreographed by the team of the Musical Cats, the Jiving Lindy Hoppers and the Rambert Dance Company. To continue with her professional development Jane is currently working towards a Diploma in Dance Teaching and Learning with the prestigious Trinity Laban College London, which she hopes to complete next year.

Supported by ANDY MARTIN is a specialist author/teacher with over 14 years of varied experience within Special Educational Needs and mainstream settings. He has worked with children from differing cultures, with different needs and across all infant and primary key stages. He believes strongly in inclusive values and practice and has extensive experience in teaching children with a range of special needs and SpLD. He qualified as a teacher and first taught in the UK and has since been accredited in Australia where he taught for nearly 5 years before moving to Singapore. He believes strongly in developing children’s emotional literacy and the power that story telling can have in this process. His book The Rainbow Dragon is out now. MA Spec & Incl Ed, BA Ed, PGCE, PGCSEN EY, Dip Youth Couns.