Bronze Accreditation in Italy

Valeria Corradin tells us all about the latest primary school in northern Italy to achieve Bronze Accreditation - well done to everyone!

When I am asked to teach the children I am both thrilled and a little worried. Every school, every class and every year is always different.
But first of all I think about how much fun they will have dancing and throwing themselves into the music.

The thing that teachers and parents like is the fact that there is not just a teacher who shows up for a few dance meetings and that's it, but a whole philosophy of dance; pins for students who get to the end of the program, together with the certificate for school are little things that make them feel special and close to a place so distant from their geographical area but always magical in their mind and in their imagination.

This year it was the turn of the "Don Cremona" Primary School in Bassano del Grappa in the province of Vicenza, a small town embraced by the hills and the slow flow of the Brenta river. This was the third time that a school in northern Italy has obtained the Bronze Accreditation.
This May, five classes, with children from around 6 to 10 years old, danced Scottish dances like crazy and the question at the end of the lesson was always "Teacher, shall we do it again?" It hasn't always been easy, never like this time have I realized how the lack of physical activity due to Covid has done damage.

The natural light-heartedness and natural movement of children were not so obvious to find. The thing that surprised me a lot, however, was that even children with socialization weaknesses found comfort and joy in dancing. Everyone enjoyed counting the lines, suggesting figures, learning new things. The magic of Scottish dance comes to life every time, children overwhelmed by the joy of dancing, teachers who can't sit still and throw themselves into the dance, and the Scottish atmosphere always arrives and brings in a small corner of Italy a piece of Scotland.