Pupils shine spotlight on climate and heritage through dance at Bothwell Castle
Scotland's past came to life in powerful new ways this week as S1 pupils from Holy Cross High performed an original dance piece at Bothwell Castle.
They were launching Sounds of Scotland – the 2025 theme for Making Sense of Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland's (HES) new learning and outreach programme.
The immersive project the pupils — If Not You, Then Who? — was delivered in partnership with Scotland's national youth dance organisation, YDance, through a series of creative workshops run throughout May. All pupils from the school's S1 year group were given the opportunity to be involved in the project, and from these taster workshops, those keen to progress further signed up.
Stephen Duncan, director of marketing and engagement at HES, said: 'We believe heritage is a living, breathing resource — not just to be observed, but experienced. Making Sense of Scotland is about unlocking the power of our historic places to inspire creativity, participation and connection.
'This project with Holy Cross High School pupils and YDance brings together climate education, local history and the expressive power of dance to help young people make sense of their world — past, present and future. It was incredible to see how the students interpreted their learning and showcased the Sounds of Scotland theme with their creative performance under the backdrop of the historic Bothwell Castle.'
Over the past week, 20 S1 pupils took part in a creative deep dive. They explored Bothwell Castle, learned about the impact of climate change on Scotland's historic environment, worked with heritage specialists, artists and choreographers, co-created a powerful response and, with support from Media Education, captured and edited their experiences on film.
The result is a dance film, blending movement, behind-the-scenes moments and creative reflections from the pupils' experience. The film will also be screened at Holy Cross High and be shared with Scottish educators as a digital resource and teaching pack to inspire creative projects.
Anna Kenrick, artistic director and CEO of YDance, added: 'This was a truly inspiring project that gave young people the chance to engage creatively with their heritage. Through dance, they explored and communicated complex ideas around climate change in a way that was personal, bold and authentic. It was a privilege to witness their confidence grow and their creativity come to life in such a unique setting.'
Making Sense of Scotland launched in October 2024 as HES's bold new programme to bring heritage learning and engagement together under one inclusive vision. It aims to make Scotland's historic environment a valued national resource for lifelong learning, reaching out to a wide and diverse audience, encouraging creative exploration and meaningful participation.
Different themes will curate content from across the programme and inspire participants to develop their activities. The Sounds of Scotland theme runs throughout 2025 and features a varied programme of projects — from youth dance workshops and sensory storytelling to the golden age when 'talkies' replaced silent movies in a new publication celebrating Scotland's Art Deco heritage.
By working closely with partners such as YDance, HES is broadening access to heritage, championing diversity and inclusion, and supporting fresh voices to keep Scotland's history vibrant and relevant for everyone.
Support for this project was provided through HES's Free Learning Visits and School Visits Travel Subsidy scheme, which offers schools across Scotland free entry and transport to historic sites.
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