What is DT? - FAQ
•   Dance Transformations is an inclusive professional development programme in the West Midlands, supporting disabled and non-disabled emerging artists working together to investigate dance, and fulfil their ambitions of making choreography for performance.
•   They engage in peer learning, creative dialogue, exchange of ideas, have opportunities to dance and choreograph together, with the ambition of commissioning 3 new dance works December 2011 ready for 2012 Cultural Olympiad celebrations throughout the West Midlands.
•   Dance Transformations is managed and delivered by Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company in partnership with Coventry University’s ICELab; (Institute for Creative Enterprise) and with the support of DanceXchange (dx), all of whom have a stake in providing enhanced opportunities for disabled dance artists in the region. Ultimately Dance Transformations aims to provide a unique environment that empowers emerging artists to investigate dance making.
•   It is an artist led programme – the organisations involved respond to the needs identified by the artists themselves, with an aim of identifying future support structures required for the artists of the future. We hope to establish a regional community of disabled and non-disabled dance artists able to advocate for and advise on inclusive dance practice.
•   The non-disabled artists follow the same creative journey as the disabled artists. Their role is not to ‘help’ the disabled artists, but they do have an interest in investigating dance making and inclusion within the dance sector.
•   The artists benefit from support in a number of ways
Mentor support, and from BESDC Education and Training co-ordinator Rachel Liggitt.
Studio space to work in (danceXchange studios)
Expert organisations working together – Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company, ICElab, DanceXchange, and a strong steering group.
Financial assistance with travel, opportunity to view work, attendance at guest artist workshops, artistic enablers for studio creative work if required, and a small bursary.
•   There is a research strand led by ICELab which aims to:
capture the work in progress
identify key themes, generate new knowledge, evaluate the programme and propose future actions
publicise the work of the programme to support artists’ needs and to influence policy.
This will be done by close and sensitive work with the participants throughout the programme, interviews, and using film as a method of capturing learning and as a reflection tool. A strong ethical framework is in place, respecting privacy, confidentiality, and including the participants’ voices in the outputs. A multi-media DVD will be produced in 2012 to share the outcomes.
•   It is intended that Dance Transformations is an open investigation of dance making, and that the journey of the artists is shared. Members of the public who are interested in dance, inclusive arts, disability, and regional social media platforms are encouraged to join an online community ning where they can blog, make comments, and view pictures, video and reflection on the work as it happens. They can also comment via twitter using #DanceT and follow @BESdance
•   There will be a Symposium at ICE lab at Coventry University Wednesday 19th October 2011, where interim work will be shared with more focussed debate.
Funders: Dancing for the Games and the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad
Dancing for the Games is part of the Cultural Olympiad in the West Midlands and is inspired by London 2012. It is a three year programme funded by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Arts Council England West Midlands and Advantage West Midlands. Dancing for the Games uses the inspiration of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to get as many people as possible dancing across the West Midlands.
The Cultural Olympiad in the West Midlands is already touching the lives of thousands of people. To date some 347,400 people in the West Midlands have been involved in the Cultural Olympiad as audiences or participants, either as part of Open Weekend, the Inspire Programme, or through specific regional programmes. For more information about the Cultural Olympiad in the West Midlands, please visit, www.wmfor2012.com/culture
Legacy Trust UK is a Principal Funder of the Cultural Olympiad and the London 2012 Festival, and is in a unique position to help communities across the UK gain lasting and life-changing benefits from the 2012 Games. The Trust has allocated £40 million of funding to 12 programmes in each nation and region of the UK and four national programmes. This funding will act as a catalyst to link grassroots activities across into the Olympic programme, so that people from all walks of life – not just athletes and sports fans – can be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime event. For more information on Legacy Trust UK please visit www.legacytrust.org.uk
Key Dates
Continued studio creative explorations: DanceXchange Studios, Birmingham.
Wednesday 6th April – studio exploration
Wednesday 4th May – studio exploration and meet the steering group
Wednesday 8th June – with guest artist Marc Brew
Monday 11th – Friday 15th July – Intensive studio ‘making time’
Further monthly gathering dates TBC.
December - One month studio making of work – DanceXchange
December/start January 2012 -
Presentation of work at Patrick Centre, DanceXchange tbc
Symposium –
Institute for Creative Enterprise Lab – Coventry University.
Wednesday 19th October 2011
Sharing of interim research findings, film research, opportunity to share the creative work, break off debates and discussions.
Key Staff
Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company
Rachel Liggitt – Education and Training Co-ordinator Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company. Lead on Dance Transformations programme.
Sarah Kennedy – Freelance Marketing/PR Support (2 days p/m)
Jenna Blair – Dance Transformations Administrative Assistant (1 day p/w)
Rachel Freeman – Artistic Director Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company
DanceXchange (supporters of Dance Transformations)
Jane Ralls - Dance Development Director
Abby Corfan - Marketing & Press Manager
Institute for Creative Enterprise Lab (partners of Dance Transformations)
Sarah Whatley - Professor of Dance and Research Director. Lead researcher
Narma Spitzer - Research assistant.
Scott Page – Film maker