Event Information
This event will take place over 2 afternoons – after school. Your troop will be allocated a date of either Tuesday 24th March or Thursday 26th March 2026 – Please indicate preference in the comments box when signing up.
Booking
- This is a Festival level event.
- If an event reaches capacity, schools will be placed on a waiting list and advised accordingly. MSSP will contact schools if places become available in the lead up to the event.
Event Eligibility
- This is Festival-based event open to all MSSP Primary, Secondary and Special Schools.
- The intent and principles of the festival have been designed to support pupils learning of the different activities and not be restricted by enforcement of the rules.
- We anticipate that many children may not have attended one of our sports events before and aim for children to learn more about the sports and skills throughout the day.
- We endeavour to design our events to be accessible and enjoyable for SEND participants. Please let us know if you plan to bring children with either communication and interaction needs, cognition and learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health difficulties or sensory and physical needs. We will be mindful when shaping our festivals to amend activities to suit any participants with these needs and impairments.
Event Eligibility
- This is a Festival event.
- We welcome all abilities of dance across mainstream and SEND schools.
- School troops should be well prepared and have time to practise their routines before attending this event.
Team Eligibility
- Age: KS2 (Also open for KS3 entries – please email n.osborne@harrismorden.org.uk)
- Mixed gender event.
- Squad size: Maximum of 15 pupils per troop.
Requirements – Teamsheets
To help us support our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion aims, all school teams must complete and submit the attached MSSP Event Entry – EDI Teamsheet in order to register for this event. We do not require the children’s names, just initials or first names are fine. This data is vital to help us improve equity and access for all. We want all Merton students to be able to represent their schools in activities they enjoy and in an environment where they feel a sense of belonging. The data you provide us will help us to review and improve our offer as we strive to achieve this.
Kit & Equipment
- No jewellery permitted.
- Children are allowed to perform barefooted.
Rules/Specification
- We are welcoming all styles and genres of dance to encourage pupils with a wide range of dance on display.
- Troop size: Maximum 15 dancers.
- Audience Tickets: We will provide at least 1 audience ticket per child in your troop.
- Please let us know how many you will require and we can then reallocate any additional seats.
- Length of piece: Between 2-3 minutes.
- Music: Must not contain inappropriate or lewd lyrics and must be commercially available.
- Sound: MP3/4 format must be sent in advance via www.wetransfer.com.
- Please bring a spare copy of your song with you on the day on USB/CD.
- Visuals: Projection and lighting effects will not be available.
- Space: Studio floor space with wings.
- Dimensions: Depth 27ft, Visual width 21ft, Wing width 5ft either side.
- Performance: Small props can be used but no scenery will be permitted.
- Please ensure your children arrive in costume if possible, to reduce changing time.
- Parking: There is NO onsite parking at Perseid Upper School. Please make pick-up arrangements with any visiting parents as we must all be offsite by 6pm.
Competition Format
- There will be no judges or competitive level at this event.
Event Format
Performance based show. All styles of dance welcome.
Timings:
- 3.15pm Arrival for schools
- 4.25pm Audience seating
- 4.30pm Show start
- 5.30pm Show end
- 6pm Schools depart
(If the event is in high demand, an additional date will be sought to include more troops)
Draw Format
- The running order of the show will be determined by the event organiser.
- Each troop will have time to rehearse in the space before audience members arrive.
Awards
- Participation certificates will be presented to all participants.
Results
- Results and event report will be available on the news webpage within 24 hours of the event ending.
Progression Pathway
- There will be no winner at this event.
- Schools are encouraged to enter THE GREAT BIG DANCE OFF and details for this can be found at: https://www.thegreatbigdanceoff.com/
Staffing and Spectators
For this onsite, performance-based event, audience members will be permitted entry with a pre-booked place/ticket via their school PE Coordinator. Primary schools must inform parents in advance when inviting students to take part of the one-ticket-per-performer structure for it to be fair for all schools.
All staff attending the event must have enhanced DBS clearance and have been fully vetted by their primary school.
DBS numbers, full name and school will be required in advance by the host school.
MSSP Duty of Care
At Merton School Sport Partnership, the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of every participant is our highest priority. Our Duty of Care framework outlines the measures we take to ensure all events are safe, enjoyable and accessible, covering key areas including safeguarding, health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusion, risk assessments, medical provision, codes of conduct, photography and data protection.
We ask all schools, staff, volunteers and participants to familiarise themselves with these expectations before attending MSSP events.
For full details, please download the MSSP Duty of Care document or visit the relevant section of our website HERE for further guidance, policies and event information.