”Det fedeste ved fællesskabet er, at du ligesom er et stort hold om at gøre de her ting”

Syv bærende elementer i elevers møder med scenekunstforløb i folkeskolens udskoling

Resumé

The article presents a study of pupils' participation in a performing arts project in lower secondary school. It is based on a qualitative study, where we followed a collaboration between a national theater organization and three public schools in a large, provincial Danish town over three years. Each year the pupils engaged in the creation of an annual joint performance intended to strengthen students' relationships across schools. Based on a youth perspective (Pless & Sørensen, 2018), the article sheds light on the pupils' stories about their participation in the performing arts project. With theoretical inspiration from Pawson and Tilley (1997), the study identifies seven effective elements that the pupils highlight, and sheds light on how the elements make a difference in relation to the problems, dreams and aspirations pupils have. The article provides insight into how the project creates an opportunity for a larger and more diverse youth environment, where the pupils are given opportunities to try out new identities and new ways of being together. Finally, the article discusses how the study and the performing arts courses at the center of it can contribute to the upcoming subject renewal of primary schools by, among other things, identifying a concept of co-determination that highlights a higher degree of co-creation between teachers and pupils and emphasizes the pupils' own creativity, enthusiasm and wealth of ideas.