Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company is an innovator of inclusive dance with disabled and non-disabled artists of all ages.  From its base in rural Shropshire the Company works locally, nationally and internationally and has built a positive reputation for its excellent performance, education and training work.  The Company aims to create a level playing field where people can step over their threshold of perceived possibility.

Our Newsletter Will Soon Be Changing

November 2011

Further to our news earlier this year, you will know that Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company will close at the end of March 2012, but the dance will go on.  Artistic Director Rachel Freeman and Education and Training Coordinator Rachel Liggitt will continue to work as freelance artists in the field of inclusive dance.  To make sure you don’t miss out on their news please sign up to either, or both, of their mailing lists here.  We will keep you up to date through this website and our email newsletters until March.  Click this link to go to the mailing list sign up page

Dance Transformations Symposium

October 2011

The Symposium was an opportunity for dance artists, teachers, researchers, project managers and arts leaders to come together to find out more about Dance Transformations and to discuss the broader issues that are impacting on inclusive dance companies and individual dance artists with and without disabilities.

The day included sharing of interim film and research, presentations of work in progress by the Transformations artists and an opportunity for open discussion.  A panel of experts in the field of inclusive dance participated in the day to stimulate thought about the broader context for inclusive dance in the UK. The panel included  Lisa Craddock, Programme Manager Professional Development, Foundation for Community Dance ; Luke Pell, Head of Learning and Development, Candoco Dance Company; Rita Marcalo, Artistic Director, Instant Dissidence and Louise Portlock, Education Associate, Gloucestershire Dance.

To find out more visit the Dance Transformations page.

Join in the conversation on our Dance Transformations social network: http://dancetransformations.ning.com/

Follow the hashtag on Twitter #DanceT.

Company Statement on Future Work

May 2011

The staff and trustees of Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company have spent the past few weeks looking at the future of the Company’s work in light of the loss of secure funding from Arts Council England from 2012. Whilst acknowledging the restrictions this imposes, we view this as an opportunity for positive change.

Demand for inclusive dance work remains high, and we are really committed to continuing the work that has been so successful over the last 16 years.

Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company will continue to exist until March 2012.

Rachel Freeman, Rachel Liggitt and Sally Edwards will then continue delivering different aspects of the work as independent artists.

• Current Artistic Director Rachel Freeman will focus on aerial dance and community performance.

• Rachel Liggitt will continue her focus on project based education and training work.

• Founder Company member Sally Edwards will continue delivering alongside both artists on a project basis.

• Company Manager Moya Malekin is taking this opportunity to relocate and develop her career.

We’d like to thank people for all their support and encouragement, and we look forward to working with you and our other many national and international partners in the coming years.

The Company may close but the dance will continue…..

Statement on National Portfolio funding

April 2012

Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company is shocked and disappointed at the decision of Arts Council England to withdraw its funding from the Company in 2012.

Artistic Director Rachel Freeman states:

“Whilst we understand the need to reduce spending we are mystified at the axing of many exceptional arts organisations.  I believe the Arts Council’s action represents a step backwards for inclusive arts and once more creates a barrier for disabled people taking part in the arts and culture of the UK”

The Company has been delivering work to exceptional standards and integrity for the last 16 years.

From its base in Shropshire the Company has produced innovative performance work that has met with international acclaim, nurtured disabled dancers to enter the professional dance world, and provided training and access to the arts for disabled and non-disabled people of all ages through its education programme.

The Company’s international links, most recently in China, USA and with Epic Arts Cambodia has given it opportunities to both share its successful ways of working and keep attuned with the international dance sector.

The Company has met with Arts Council England to discuss the decision to cut funding, highlighting to them the value for money we offer and the importance of inclusive and community arts in the UK.  We will continue to talk to ACE and remain in an open discussion about other funding streams which may be available.  Above all the Company is committed to realising its artistic vision of creating a level playing field and to continued provision for the many individuals and groups we work with.

Celebrating our Successes

During 2009 – 2010 Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company worked with over 3,000 people of all ages and abilities in 181 workshop sessions.
It continues to receive many requests for workshops and training from groups and schools across the UK, along with students keen to learn about our approach to inclusive dance.

2010-11 has seen an increase in youth dance provision across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, providing after school activity, regular clubs fusing contemporary dance and street dance, exciting collaborative work with digital artists, and aerial ‘flying’ dance workshops providing new ways of moving – particularly for those with multiple and complex needs.

LIKE Youth Dance members performed at the Telford Dance Showcase, and Artistic Director Rachel Freeman has been invited to attend a Queen’s reception at Buckingham Palace in recognition of the Company’s pioneering work with children and young people.  The Company is delighted at this opportunity to celebrate the strength of the young talented dancers we have been working with.

Our adult dance group Contact has been running since 2005 and the Company is keen to find local performance opportunities for our new and long-standing adult dancers.

‘We are a small group of passionate motivated individuals working at grass roots level, offering a unique service which is completely committed to recognising and developing each individual’s potential.”
–Rachel Liggitt: Education and Training Co-ordinator

In 2010 Blue Eyed Soul launched Dance Transformations, a development programme which addresses the barriers for choreographers with disabilities and part of Dancing for the Games.  Working in partnership with Coventry University’s ICE Lab and supported by DanceXchange the programme has been hugely successful to date.  With a steering committee representing organisations across the UK, we are committed to opening up future pathways for aspiring disabled choreographers.

How You Can Help

“Daisy has been taking part in Blue Eyed Soul Dance activities since junior school, doing workshops, clubs and even flying on ropes.  She really enjoys dancing and has now grown a special interest.  It’s given her regular exercise to get involved in, an opportunity to make new friends, and gives us parents a rare break.  It’s also shown that the arts can be appreciated and participated in by all abilities, and we’re really proud that her confidence has increased so much she’s performed on stage to an audience – something we never thought we’d see!  We’re really sad they’ve lost their funding”
- Parent comment

If you have been touched or involved in the Company’s work over the last 16 years we’d love to hear from you.  It’s the impact on each individual which inspires us, and is valuable in providing evidence of the strength of our work.

Get in touch by email to admin@besdance.com, make a comment on our blog, become a fan of LIKE Youth Dance on facebook, reply via twitter to @besdance, or if you’re interested in discussing inclusive dance making join the online community Ning.

Visit Dance Transformations

For further information on our activity see our events page, call us on 01743 210830 or email admin@blueeyedsouldance.com

For current and archive video go to our Video & Media section and for images visit our Gallery or our Flickr page