By Isle of Wight Observer
Arreton Primary School’s interpretation of a young couple’s love story, which ends with the need for specialist care from Mountbatten IW, won February’s hard-fought Isle Dance 2025 competition recently.
Inspired by the care given by the hospice charity to members of the school’s community, the performance involved more than twenty children and prompted the competition’s judges to call it ‘beautiful and moving’.
The show also featured performances by dancers from Ryde’s MLD Studio, which hosts and organises the annual competition.
Arreton Primary was among eight schools taking part in Isle Dance 2025, where productions covered everything from the brutal impact of war to more rights for match girls, and from overcoming the pressure of social media to saving the rainforest.
Arreton Primary’s performance included a rainbow parachute, huge sunflowers and children in nurses’ uniforms signing in Makaton, a communication system used by people with communication or learning difficulties. Audience members supporting the school wore sunflower headbands and yellow clothing.
The school’s Kirsty Heywood and Kayleigh Monk, who co-ordinated the Isle Dance entry with the children, said: “We are so proud of everyone who helped make Isle Dance 2025 a winning success.
“A massive thank you to Mountbatten Isle of Wight for trusting us to tell our story through dance and drama.”
Mountbatten CEO, Nigel Hartley, MBE, said: “Arreton Primary’s marvellous performance was a wonderful opportunity to spread the word about Mountbatten and its role — at the heart of our community, providing hospice care, bereavement support and rehabilitation.
“Well done to the school and the young performers for winning Isle Dance.
“We warmly invite them to join us at Mountbatten Isle of Wight in Newport, to recreate their dance for our patients, staff and volunteers. I know they will be as moved and impressed as we were.”
