Darren Panton (Hackney Community)
Wednesday 17 June 2009
DARREN was selected for the exclusive Junior Association of the Royal Ballet at the tender age of 8 and later made history when he became the first black male to graduate from The Royal Ballet School.
He has toured the world with leading dance companies and won street dance competitions as well as choreographing for and performing in stage shows and movies. Darren has worked with numerous celebrities including Bobby Brown, Janet Jackson, Boyzone and Kylie Minogue. He currently combines roles of dance consultant, artistic director, choreographer and performer with teaching Greenhouse kids!
Darren says:
'For these kids it is all about setting up the goalposts, making them look differently at life through dance. Hopefully, with mentoring, they're learning life skills like discipline, focus and self-confidence. There is a lot that dance can do. It helps them improve in other sports and with their educational work.
'I learn from these kids as well. They are the future so we have to stop and listen to what they have to say. Young people come because they like to be able to perform and get strong. They say there is not much for them to do after school...as well as dancing, there is someone there to sit and talk to them.'
