The Loss of Someone Special

The Loss of Someone Special is a proactive, curriculum-linked project designed for primary school pupils to explore and respond to the wide issues surrounding loss. This can be from the death of a pet, a best friend moving away, the perceived loss of family life through divorce or separation to the deeper issues of the death of a close family member or friend. The aim is to help school children learn to cope with loss in a healthy way as early as possible in their lives.

Waterbugs and Dragonflies by Doris Stickney is a delightfully simple story for young children. By using the analogy of the water bugs’ short life under the water and their emergence as dragonflies into the bright sunlit world above the water, it provides a base for discussion surrounding loss and death for children to explore, with help.

cre8.ed and Springs Dance Company, with permission from the publishers, have interpreted this story into a powerful dance presentation to tackle the sensitive subject of loss. The professional dance presentation is set to music by Bobby McFerrin and Thomas Newman. It lasts about 20 minutes, is light, friendly and fun whilst designed to draw awareness to the different responses children may experience when bereaved, as well as to think about how they can support each other in difficult times.

The performance is part of the child bereavement project that includes:

• guidelines offered for teachers to prepare pupils prior to the dance presentation;
• discussion materials for use by classroom teachers immediately after the performance;
• dance and artworkshops with Springs Dance Company members and cre8.ed Visual Artists;
• follow-up resources that include visual art-based lessons for teachers to use in the classroom, as appropriate.

Artists taking part in the programme have been trained by the Child Bereavement Charity. To book a performance/workshop please Contact Us.

That is probably the most delightful and moving piece of dance I’ve ever seen – and I’ve seen quite a few! Totally brilliant.

Audience member referring to Waterbugs and Dragonflies