WigLe Dance CIC, known as “Get A WigLe On,” is a dance development organisation based in Leigh, Wigan Borough. Led by youth, they are dedicated to providing exciting and high-quality dance programmes for children and young people in the area. Their vision is to support the dance ecology in their town and ignite the fire within young individuals, inspiring them to experience the freedom and expression through movement.
Each WigLe session is designed to bring joy and friendship, aiming to direct young people in Wigan toward living happy, healthy, and socially engaged lives through dance. They offer assistance to schools in delivering high-quality dance and creative opportunities for their pupils. WigLe Dance CIC works closely with schools across the Wigan Borough and with the School Games Organisers to provide creative and high-quality dance opportunities for schools and their students.
As part of their services, WigLe Dance CIC provides schools with expert dance teaching through their dancers in residence. These dance artists deliver sessions that enrich the school's PE and Arts curriculum, whether it be during PE lessons, PPA time, or extracurricular clubs. All dance artists are well-trained in first aid, have recent DBS checks, and have undergone safeguarding training.
By commissioning WigLe Dance to provide dance provision in schools, the schools also contribute to the ongoing dance training of young people attending their community classes. The income generated from their schools' programme goes directly towards providing community dance opportunities across the borough, ensuring that more young people have access to dance sessions and progression opportunities.
In addition, WigLe Dance CIC offers continuing professional development (CPD) sessions for teachers. These sessions provide teachers with dance vocabulary, lesson plans, warm-up and cool-down games, and a scheme of work with accompanying music. Teachers can book these CPD sessions either in school or via Zoom.
One of the highlights of WigLe Dance CIC's offerings is the “Let's Dance” Schools Showcase, which is a part of the Wigan Borough Dance Festival. This event provides dancers from different schools in Wigan the opportunity to perform and celebrate their achievements. The performances are done alongside professional light, sound, and stage setups, allowing children to come together and dance in front of their parents and family members.
WigLe Dance CIC works in partnership with Cathy Robinson and Sharon Walls, the School Games Organisers, to curate the festival. If schools are interested in bringing their groups to perform at the festival, they can contact the organisers through the School Games network.
Overall, WigLe Dance CIC is dedicated to providing dance as a creative discipline to the young people of Wigan and Leigh. Their commitment to high-quality dance programmes, partnerships with schools, and continuous support of the dance community in the borough make them an essential organisation for inspiring and nurturing young dancers.