Children in nine schools have been discovering the music, rhythms and moves of African dance, contemporary dance, street dance, jazz and hip hop by taking part in a series of dance workshops.

The Dance Challenge sessions, run by professional choreographers and musicians, are being co-ordinated by Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s arts team with funding from John Lyon’s Charity.

Dance Challenge is a three-year project in schools, for which John Lyon’s Charity has provided a £96,000 grant.

A wide range of workshops and performances are taking place in schools and centres throughout the borough, giving pupils the opportunity to work and perform with professional dancers in styles such as African, South Asian, jazz, contemporary and hip hop.

Nine schools have been selected to take part in the first part of the project. Each school is hosting a series of six to eight dance workshops in their chosen style. The project culminates in two performances by participating schools for parents, relatives and invited guests at Latymer Arts Centre, in King Street, Hammersmith, on 5 and 6 March.

Among those taking part are pupils from Canberra Primary School, in Australia Road, W12, where choreographer Norman Stephenson and drummer Stephen Blagrove have been introducing a group of 26 children, aged five to six, to African music and dance.

Teacher Rachel McLellan, a former ballet dancer and the school’s dance co-ordinator, said: “The enthusiasm of the artists rubs off on the children and they absolutely love it. Quite a few of our pupils come from African countries so the other children are getting an insight into the culture of their classmates’ homeland.

We have based other class work and music and dance lessons on Africa so that the children taking part in the workshops have a fuller understanding of the cultural background to the project and the pupils who aren’t joining the performance feel involved. A parent, Bente Rogers, has made costumes for the children to wear on stage and pupils have made their own matching headbands.”

Cllr David Williams, deputy for education, said: “The children will be gaining valuable experience of music and dance as well as being given an insight into other cultures and traditions. Participation in music, dance and other arts subjects helps pupils to develop their confidence, which has an important impact on their all-round achievement. We are grateful for the support of John Lyon’s Charity, which funds several excellent arts, sports and literacy schemes in the borough.