Shropshire Inclusive dance – Page 5 – Shropshire inclusive Dance

July 1, 2019July 1, 2019 rayjsid

VERSE-atility – Young carers exploring the future through music and dance.

Shropshire inclusive Dance were invited by the Hive to be part of this exciting and rewarding music and movement project.

During the Easter holidays, the verse-atility team of dance and music leaders, including the SiD outreach team, once again welcomed a group of young carers to the Hive to learn, connect, create and explore together. This was the second intensive project following the launch of the programme in 2018.

A group of seven young people aged between 8 and 14 from across Shropshire came together for five days to use music and dance in response to the question ‘What will our planet be like in 20 years time?’. The group came up with a range of responses that explored caring for each other and the environment, climate change, young voices and protest.

The group, guided by the professional team choreographed movement, made music and wrote a song that was all performed for an audience at the end of the week. Some of the young people also took their arts award, gaining a qualification for their participation.

The aims of verse-atility are to create a safe, creative space for young carers to build their confidence, express themselves, collaborate with like minded people and to develop their skills. All of the young people had a brilliant time, making new friends and working together.

We feel the footage in the film below speaks much louder then words. Sit back and enjoy.

VERSE-atility Documentary 2019 from Hiveshrewsbury on Vimeo.

June 24, 2019July 1, 2019 rayjsid

‘A Bridge Between Us’ to be shown at the Assim Vivemos film festival in Brazil.

‘A Bridge Between Us’ created by filmmaker Jonathan Tritton, documents a performance of duets by Contact Dance Company. The film explores what it means for performers to dance together and the skills needed to find a strong connection when making and performing dance. In the film, dancers with and without disabilities share the connection they feel with each other through physical touch and through an invisible connection across the dance floor.

20171013-IMG_5903 — While you broke through

Assam Vivemos is one of the most traditional disability film festivals worldwide, Brazil’s International Disability Film Festival (Assim Vivemos) is a biennial event that takes place in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Brasília, with two full weeks of screenings in each city, always providing all accessibilities: audio-description, sign language in the panels, and subtitles in the films. Known as the pioneer event in Brazil offering audio-description in all sessions, our festival strongly mobilizes the community of people with disability as well as schools and college students, and professionals related to accessibility, inclusion and other issues of people with disability.

We are thrilled that the film we be shown to audiences in Rio De Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Brasilia.We hope that those attending the festival and viewing the film enjoy it.

The film can be viewed on our website here

June 19, 2019June 19, 2019 rayjsid

Lift Off! Rehearsals have begun for Contact Dance Company’s new show ‘Being Seen’

‘Contact Dance Company’ have begun rehearsals for a brand new dance piece entitled ‘Being Seen’, to be premiered at Theatre Severn on July 20^th, 2019

Choreographer, Jo Fong, is working with a cast of eight dancers with and without disabilities, to craft this new dance work. Jo, who has worked with international companies such as Ballet Rambert and the Welsh National Opera, has been enjoying day one of rehearsals:

‘It’s so exciting to be at The Hive in Shrewsbury, with Contact Dance Company. It feels like a brand new era for the company- something fresh and energised. I’m finding myself constantly inspired by the dancers’ generosity and creativity’.

Amal Neffi, a company dancer with a disability, reflects on the first day working with the choreographer.

‘We challenged ourselves as dancers, learning how each other move, and building our confidence to work in close contact, supporting, moving and listening to each other.

The new dance, ‘ Being Seen’, will be a treat for Shropshire audiences. Contact Dance Company has built a strong reputation for its powerful brand of contemporary inclusive dance, full of depth and connection. Choreographer Jo Fong wows audiences with her refreshing, energetic and playful dance-making; the combination promises to be a feast for the senses.

Audiences for ‘Being Seen’ performances will be invited to sit close to the action. Shropshire Inclusive Dance co artistic director Ray Jacobs states:

‘It’s really important that audience members see the details of the dance and feel the connection between dancers. The smallest gesture, the qualities of contact between dancers, is a delight to watch. Witnessing the show will be a sensory experience’.

This new dance piece is funded by Arts Council England and Shropshire Council.

Seats for ‘Being Seen’ can be booked via the Theatre Severn box office or online here but hurry, tickets are going fast!

June 6, 2019 rayjsid

A week of dancing and connecting – Unique Voices Shared Visions, AVS Choreographic Lab 2019

16 dancers joined SiD for the AVS Inclusive Choreographic Lab in June. Dancers travelled from Stoke, Gloucester, Nottingham, Stourbridge, Kidderminster, Telford and small villages surrounding Shropshire to attend the sell out week and what fun we had.

Workshop facilitators Annie Hanauer, Vicky Malin and Sarah Blanc arrived from London bringing a wealth of experience through working inclusively with some of the most established and respected artists and organisations in the contemporary dance world. The common thread between the facilitators was that all three artists had worked with acclaimed Candoco Dance Company.

Each day started with a dance class, rotated between all three dancers. Each facilitator offered their own unique approach to morning class, including taught technical exercises, somatic dance practice approaches and improvisational tasks.

In the afternoons we explored creative choreographic tasks based upon the workshops leader’s interests and their choreographic research. The tasks involved lots of creative play and experimentation, individually and in small groups. There was time to talk, reflect and socialize, a gift that does not happen enough. During the final two days we experimented choreographically with our own artistic ideas.

The week was a rich nurturing experience, feeding the soul, whilst enlivening and revitalizing individual practice. I found total delight in reconnecting with dancing friends and the joy of meeting new people. I loved the diversity of the group, encompassing different backgrounds, ages, experience, genders, heights, and body shapes. The group arrived with various mobility aids, expectations and hopes but all of us were incredibly ‘open’, respectful and willing to take part fully in all the nuggets of ideas, movement explorations and improvisational structures offered. I loved dancing in a large group, as an ensemble, there was so much to feed off and enjoy.

It was wonderful to be approached to host the AVS Lab, SiD leant that there is a need for a workshop of this nature and the experience brings so much to dancers and artists living and working in Shropshire and for those living outside in the surrounding regions. Maybe this is the beginning of a bi-annual opportunity and future collaborations ?
Thank you AVS Lab for this brilliant opportunity.

Rachel Liggitt, SiD Co- Director.

This AVS Lab was supported by Candoco Dance Company, The Place and Arts Council England. Thank you to Basil Houghton Memorial Trust for funding SiD received to host the AVS Lab.

Photography is by Ewen Macintyre.

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March 12, 2019March 18, 2019 annabelyavin

Launch of All-In, our inclusive youth dance programme for 12-19 year olds in Shropshire

We are thrilled to launch our new inclusive youth dance project ‘All-In’

All-In is a series of taster dance workshops in 2019 to build towards the exciting launch of our inclusive youth dance company in 2020. If you are a young person with or without disabilities in Shropshire aged 12-19 who is passionate about dance, come along to our workshops in Shrewsbury.

The sessions will include moving, creating, choreographing and sharing together. They will be led by experienced practitioners who are skilled in leading enjoyable and accessible dance sessions.

When: Wednesday 17th April, Tuesday 13th August, Monday 28th October 2019.

Time: 1:30-3:30pm

Where: The Gateway Education and Arts Centre, Shrewsbury

Cost: £3.50 per person

Each of these sessions will be unique so feel free to join us at one or all of them. Booking is required and places are limited.

To reserved your place, complete the booking form here

For more information contact Kim at Shropshire Inclusive Dance at officesidance@gmail.com or call 01743 234976

February 12, 2019 rayjsid

SiD board seeks a treasurer

SiD are seeking a Treasurer to join their board, could you be part of the only inclusive dance company in Shropshire?

Shropshire Inclusive Dance (SiD) has an established board of directors who have the skills and expertise to drive the development of this company. We are now looking for a treasurer to join our board. This is a voluntary position requiring commitment and an interest in the arts.

To be our Treasurer you must be a finance professional who has knowledge of charity governance. As part of our board you will be joining a friendly team who are committed to supporting an ambitious local organisation. You will be supported in your role as Treasurer through training, away days and assistance from the company accountant.

We would love to hear from anybody who is interested in the role, please get in touch!

officesidance@gmail.com

01743 234 976

December 5, 2018 rayjsid

SiD’s Film ‘A Bridge Between Us’ shown at The Breaking Down Barriers Film Festival in Moscow

SiD’s short documentary film ‘A Bridge Between Us’ was shown at The Breaking Down Barriers Film Festival in Moscow.

The film can be viewed here.

SiD Co – director Ray Jacobs presented the film in two venues in Moscow as part of this ground breaking Russian film festival. The film was very popular and received great feedback. Russian and international attendees were interested in how SiD worked as a company and many international invites were received !
Ray also ran a master class inclusive workshop, sharing some of Contact Dance Company’s practical and creative approaches towards building connection between dancers.

The Breaking Down Barriers film festival, is an important international event. The festival shared over 80 films that explore, reveal and celebrate disabled peoples lives through fiction and documentary films. The festival was very well organised including a brilliant team of volunteers and translators for international visitors. SiD would like to thank the British Arts Council in Russia for supporting us. The festival was a great networking event and new contacts, opportunities and partnerships were forged.sIS

November 18, 2018 rayjsid

Contact Dance Company perform TwoFold at the Feast Festival in Malvern

A full house at the festival witnessed Contact Dance Company’s absorbing and powerful programme of duets ‘Two Fold’. The programme featured;

‘Unspoken’ An intimate duet about friendship. How do we speak without words?

‘While you broke through to other worlds’ A duet exploring the dynamics and polarity between two people, the pull to strive ahead, the fear of being left behind.

‘Father Daughter’ a celebration of the real life connection between the two dancers.

The programme also included a beautifully made short film about the duets entitled
‘A bridge between us’ created by filmmaker Jonathan Tritton.

The programme culminated in a trio ‘The details in the hands’.

Dance development leader Elizabeth Crosswell and her son were in the audience

I came to watch Contact Dance Company at the Feast Festival at Malvern Cube Theatre with my 4 year old son, we were mesmerised.

I’ve never seen him sit on the edge of his seat like that before, watching the duet between Rachel Liggitt and Mervyn Bradley unfold. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him softly mirroring movements from the dancers, as a parent your instinct is to hush, to worry about disturbing the performance for others, but this was his response to the performance and my instinct said let him be.

His response came from the environment the performers had created, by connecting with us, the audience. They made us feel a part of it, drawing us into a duet for two, but we were also immersed in the moments of touch, the friendship, the meeting and parting.

The dancers were beautiful; from the measured, dynamic movements of the all-male duet, to the warm flow of the structured improvisation of the trio. I wanted to dance in that trio too, they made it look like so much fun. The way they connected with us as an audience is to me a huge part of what dance is about. The moment when the father proudly shows off his baby girl to the audience – we shared that pride with him. We see the love and care danced together when his daughter joins him later in the duet. It’s just magical.

I thought it was brilliant that the dancers were available to chat with the audience after the performance. Unfortunately I had to dash off for the school run, but I would have loved to have asked about the process and how the work was created.

Please thank all the dancers for their wonderful performances. I was so grateful to have been able to see such high quality dance in such an intimate venue.

Shropshire Inclusive Dance would like to thank the feast festival for inviting us to be part of a very special festival and JTV for supporting our production with high quality lighting and sound.

Images from the duets Father Daughter and Unspoken. (photography Ray Jacobs)

Unspoken

October 19, 2018March 11, 2019 rayjsid

VERSE-atility – A music and dance project for young carers.

Shropshire inclusive Dance were invited by the Hive to be part of this exciting and rewarding music and movement project. SiD’s outreach team led by Anna Belyavin worked alongside fantastic musicians from The Hive to facilitate workshops where young carers could compose, record and choreograph a piece – all in a week!

The project, funded by Youth Music, began with a series of music and dance workshop tasters to groups of young carers throughout Shropshire. Those young people interested in the project and free to spend a week at the Hive signed up. The young people grew in confidence over the weeks activity. Working with dance and music offered time for the young people which was social, fun, creative and challenging.

The young people, musical and dance facilitators worked hard together as a very special team creating a supportive environment full of creativity.

The young carers say that the most important thing for them is “to be around other people who have a lot in common with us” and “to be able to express myself creatively, without judgement”.

Phase one of the project culminated in a brilliant performance by the young people.

We feel the footage in the film below and the accompanied images speak much louder then words. Sit back and enjoy.

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Images from the project.

workshop images – Ray Jacobs

October 16, 2018October 16, 2018 rayjsid

Unknown Places – Performance at Wolverhampton Arena, October 10th 2018

‘Unknown Places’ Contact Dance Company’s most recent ensemble piece, choreographed by dance artist Joanna Young, made a welcome return to the stage at the Arena Theatre in Wolverhampton.

This evocative and absorbing piece was performed alongside an improvised trio by Contact Dance Company titled ‘The details of the hands’. The piece was structured and inspired by Joanna Young and accompanied with sensitive and powerful live music by folk duet Deuair.

Details of the hands – Image Ewen Macintyre

Shropshire Inclusive Dance’s co-director Rachel Liggitt has been in residence with ‘Dance Unity’ sharing some of the working methods in Contact Dance Company’s pieces and some of the ideas behind ‘Unknown Places’ The influence of the work became immediately apparent as Dance Unity took to the stage sharing a dance piece full of connection and elegance.

The final work to be performed was Contact Dance Company’s
‘Unknown Places’. The cast of 8 very individual dancers moved through shifts in mood & dynamics from subtle swaying and careful placing, to the creation of wild eddies of movement across a crowded dance floor. The piece demanded discipline and connection from the dancers, which was there for all to see.

‘A dancer moves slowly within a circle while delicate strands of lavender are precariously balanced on her. A male dancer moves and slides a large boulder through his arms, a ripple of bamboo poles balanced on dancers bodies provides a gentle rhythmic accompaniment’

20181010-_DSC6633 copy — Unknown Places – Image Ewen Macintyre

The dance was accompanied by a subtle and dynamic soundscape by Jamie McCarthy.Contact Dance Company performed Joanna Young’s absorbing and finely placed work with commitment, focus and energy. Members of the audience present at the premiere of the work shared the following thoughts.

‘The new work was a wonderful piece of ensemble movement: focused, reflective, contemplative, infused with the presence not only of each dancer, but also the presence and energies of the natural world’

‘At times it felt like the piece was showing to me the ever moving qualities of the whole of humanity’