A WEEK ago last Saturday the stage of the Gloucester Hall vibrated to the feet of young Jersey dancers showcasing their entries for the Dance World Cup to be held in Disney Paris at the end of June.

In previous years the local troupe has done well, winning several gold and silver trophies. With generous local sponsorship, dance students from across the Island have been brought together to take up the challenge, and this year, perhaps because of the lure of the location, the international field will be much larger and the competition fiercer.

The event also gave them the chance to project themselves on a larger stage in preparation for their coming leaps of faith.

If you speak to the local dancing fraternity, you’ll be told that theirs is the ‘Cinderella’ branch of the arts in the Island. While that might represent a protest too far, there is more than a hint that while it is a discipline commanding selfless dedication by exponents and teachers alike, there is little appetite for external intervention.

Indeed, when the opportunity arose last year for a weekend workshop with the Royal Ballet, the take-up for such a golden

invitation was remarkably low. Clashes with private lessons or school events were all cited as reasons for non-participation.

And it’s not an isolated reticence. In the music sphere the newly created Jersey Music Academy has enhanced the range of performers visiting the Island, and has involved them in an ambitious programme of masterclasses and workshops for up-and-coming local students.

Those who have attended have been enthralled by the experience, even if it has shown them how far they yet have to travel. Despite – or perhaps because of – the reality check, it has proved inspiring for students and parents alike.

Among the aims of the ESC Cultural Strategy is a specific commitment to strengthen culture at the grass roots. And as anyone involved in horticulture or propagation will tell you, broadening the gene pool – in this case, the cultural and talent base – is a vital step to prepare our progeny to thrive in the wider world.

We have never been slow in demanding justification for importing outside expertise into our Island, particularly in the guise of senior or well-paid jobs. There is no question that there is a significant pool of local talent, but experience of life in a broader context is of significant value too, and quite often we attribute less value to that aspect than our perception of local worth. Though it might feel more cosy, we can’t afford to live in a bubble.

The recent controversy over school exam figures brought us up short in respect of comparisons with national results at GCSE and A-level. Despite the furore over their disclosure, what emerged was certainly not a disaster. Nevertheless, it did set off a predictable catalogue of pleas of ‘special circumstances’ to deflect disappointment.

We had always been assured how well our students performed in national examinations – in fact, how they regularly outshone their equivalents in the UK. Conveniently, we have focused on ‘top line’ comparisons and have not taken account of the highly streamed nature of our local set-up.

In any case, some voices associated with education are now advocating that comparative results should be withheld to prevent any of the so-called league tables appearing divisive for individuals and the establishments they attend.
Clearly our schools provide as good an education as any across the water. But if you keep results secret, how can the kids know how good they are vis-à-vis their peers? They’re going to find out eventually when tested against others in the pot.

Now we all know there are a hundred ways of judging educational efficacy, and they are not all related to public exam statistics.

We also know that many schools have grown quite clever in coaching students in the narrow skill of passing exams at the expense of amassing a quiver of broader skills. So it is right that the evidence should be published and that schools, their head teachers and professional supporters should have the opportunity to explain the evidence and the context, and to promote their schools, their records and their methods.

Better that than hiding their light and being perceived a failure by tainted documentation.

And when it comes to taking the leap into higher education, there is one caution we should bear in mind: while the newly acquired status of Highlands College and the excellent courses it offers are proving increasingly attractive to local students, as good as the courses and their academic thoroughness may be, there will inevitably be a vital ingredient of university education missing – testing their abilities against their UK peers at a period of greatest influence on their
academic and social development.

Now obviously there is a practical deterrent – expense. While the UK government is happy to accept the loyalty of local youngsters by drafting them into the armed services or Team GB, it is not averse to treating them in educational terms as ‘overseas students’, thereby hyping the cost of their university courses. But university life isn’t just for studying.

So back to the talent on show last week, which undoubtedly will be honed even further before Team Jersey performs in earnest. These young dancers will not only have the opportunity to serve the Island well, but if previous experience is anything to go by, the event will also enable the competitors to mix, participate in the camaraderie of an international group of motivated performers and achievers.
It will be a vital fillip for all our cultural brands.