Designed with KS2 students in mind, the thrilling and interactive concerts will be presented by award-winning composer and conductor, James Redwood.  Explore the Orchestra: Dance, Dance, Dance! will showcase the orchestral families, while exploring brilliant examples of how musicians and composers have stretched the boundaries of music. As well as pieces from the world of ballet and some orchestral classics, all the music has been specially chosen to get you moving and James will lead students in his newly composed song.

The concert running time is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. The concerts are free and this includes a CPD for teachers on Monday 27 March at The Spire, Poole. If the live concerts are shown as sold out; please click here to add your school to the waiting list.

The concert will also be streamed live for free on Wednesday 17 May at 1.30pm. Click on the link to book a digital ticket giving access to the stream. Details on how to log in and gain access will be sent.

Click on the link to view the online learning resources with video guides for James’ participatory songs and body percussion pieces.

Works and composers

Johann Strauss II The Blue Danube Waltz
Louise Farrenc Symphony No.3 - scherzo vivace
James Redwood I Wanna Dance!
Prokofiev Dance of the Knights
Sally Beamish Reckless
James Redwood Dance of the Night
Astor Piazzola Libertango
Tchaikovsky Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Valse Bohemienne
Dvořák Slavonic Dance No.8
ABBA Dancing Queen
It's an unmissable opportunity for the children to see live classical music that they almost certainly would not choose, or be able to afford to see at any other time. I also hope it might begin a desire to learn to play an instrument.
Teacher at Poole Schools' Concert 2018

With thanks to the Skyrme Hart Charitable Trust for supporting the BSO's programme of Schools' Concerts across the South West between 2023 and 2028

In addition, Explore the Orchestra: Dance, Dance, Dance! in Poole has been generously supported by

Dave and Jan Pointer
Sir Neville and Lady Simms
Christine and Jim Dipple
one anonymous supporter