About 90 pupils, studying performing arts, theatre studies, dance, and drama, joined in with a creative tour around the school as they danced to the Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars song ‘Uptown Funk’. Taking their inspiration from a similar video from theatre students at A. Maceo Smith New Tech High School in Dallas, USA, the choreographed moves were put into action in the halls and corridors of Harrogate Grammar. In less than 24 hours the video had already been seen by 5,200 people, and, as of today (Friday, February 13), it had reached 8,469 views. Faculty leader for performing arts Lucy Vincent told the Harrogate Advertiser she had seen the video and it looked like fun. “Every time I went on Facebook another friend had shared the link and told me I should do it at the grammar school, so I said, well lets,” she said. “We got all of our GCSE drama and dance students and our A level performing arts and theatre studies students together - some of them didn’t want to do it, but now they’re really cross. “We did a couple of lunch time rehearsals and put it together and did it in one take after school, just to show that we have a great time and, doing what we are doing in school, that we work hard but have fun, and to show off our facilities, because we’re very lucky at Harrogate Grammar. “We probably rehearsed about four times in a week and then we filmed it. It was quite quick but we didn’t want another school to beat us to it and the students did really well.” Once the video hit Youtube, Mrs Vincent sent a link to the originator of the video, theatre teacher Scot Pankey, who responded: “Wow!!!!! So incredibly moved!!! Just posted it on my Facebook! You guys ROCKED!!!!! Showed it to my students and they LOVED IT!!! We are so moved and honoured!” Creating the hashtag #funkydramaworld the team of dancers at the grammar school have now thrown out the challenge to the rest of the world and asked, which school next? Mrs Vincent said: “Already a school in New Zealand has been in touch to say it looks really good and we might make some links from that which could be really exciting.”
