The project was led by Scottish Opera working with Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company, Waterbaby Dance Ltd, Dirty Feet (Community dance group), Ashcraig School (Glasgow City Council’s only secondary school for physically disabled adults) and Smithycroft Secondary School.

Participants began work with the creative team in September to devise their own performance, based on Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld. They looked at themes of control, fantasy, journeys, gods and were inspired by the incredible visual impact of the aerial dome all of which led to a central concept of a battle between man and machine set in the Orpheus Artificial Intelligence and Digital Gaming Corporation. Participants made costumes, wrote original songs, choreographed movement and created characters all of which were incorporated into the performance.

The last stage of the process was six day residency at Scottish Opera’s Production Studios for intensive aerial training, bringing all elements of the production together. The performances were accompanied by singers and members of The Orchestra of Scottish Opera.

The project was featured on Channel 4 - have a look at the Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company blog to read behind the scenes diaries, look at photos and watch the TV coverage.

Also look at our photo galleries in the Gallery on this website.

Wednesday 19^th October 10am to 5pm

The event is sold out – if you’re not there in person you can follow the day online on Twitter following the hashtag #DanceT.

Join in conversations afterwards on our social network www.dancetransformations.ning.com.

We are also hosting a Dance Transformations Symposium at the Institute for Creative Enterprise (ICE) at Coventry University. It is on Wednesday 19th October 2011 from 10am until 5pm. Dance Transformations is a two-year inclusive artist-led development programme in the West Midlands, for emerging dance artists to explore choreographic ideas. Take a look at our Dance Transformations page for more information and find out how to book a place.

The biggest news is that we have had a few changes to the Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company staff team.  We had said a fond farewell to two key members of the team.  Our Company Manager, Moya Malekin, has relocated to London.  Sally Edwards, our Outreach Worker, has also left the company after 17 years of working with us.  We wish them all the best for the future.  We have been joined by two part-time freelancers who are supporting our work until March 2012.  Sarah Kennedy has increased her marketing support role for the company and is now the main contact for marketing and PR.  Find out more about Sarah here.  Jenna Blair has also increased her supporting role and is covering administration and specifically supporting the Dance Transformations programme. Find out more about Jenna here.

]]> http://www.blueeyedsouldance.com/new-season-news-at-blue-eyed-soul-dance/feed/ http://www.blueeyedsouldance.com/call-for-9-dancers-to-perform-new-dance-works/ http://www.blueeyedsouldance.com/call-for-9-dancers-to-perform-new-dance-works/#comments Wed, 11 May 2011 11:07:24 +0000 Moya http://www.blueeyedsouldance.com/?p=930 Dance Transformations is looking for 9 committed and vibrant dancers for a fantastic opportunity to perform works by emerging disabled and non-disabled choreographers.

Dance Transformations provides a unique programme which supports a group of emerging artists with a physical disability and/or sensory impairment and non-disabled dance artists to investigate dance making.

Recruited dancers will have the opportunity to work with two artists on the Dance Transformations programme in the beautiful DanceXchange studios, in Birmingham.

You will experience different approaches developed by disabled and non-disabled artists, and have the opportunity to perform to a wide audience at a symposium event at Coventry University attended by people from across the dance sector.

Want to get involved? Read more here.

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

Follow the hashtag on Twitter #DanceT.

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…..

The Company will meet with it’s Management Board and Arts Council England to discuss the best possible way forward to sustain future work through other possible funding options

Some of the young people performed at Telford Dance Festival, and we’re looking forward to new performance opportunities for Envision Dance Group (hip-hop & contemporary fusion) such as Telford Culture Fest in the Town Park on 23rd July.

Our after school activity has proved popular, and we’re hopeful of building towards our long term ambition of bridging the gap between main stream and inclusive dance, and celebrating new fun creative ways of moving.

Our Artistic Director has even been invited to a reception with the Queen for young people in performing arts, a very exciting honour.

If you’re interested in learning more do add yourself as a fan of our LIKE Youth Dance facebook group.  There’s some lovey photos there too.

Epic Arts dancer flying in cocoon

In August this year EPiC Arts from Cambodia visited Blue Eyed Soul in Shropshire for two days of exchange, research and fun. We spent time on the ropes, a new experience for EPiC dancers - one of whom had been waiting for the opportunity since seeing BESDC perform in Hong Kong in 2006. We also shared stories and experiences as dance artists working in an inclusive context.

At the core of the group were four young men in their early 20’s, two wheelchair users and 2 deaf who were the most enthusiastic, daring and responsive dancers you could wish for. Having climbed trees at home since childhood they approached the aerial work without fear and with invention and creativity. When the harnesses proved uncomfortable they swapped to the cocoon but used it in a completely new way, wrapping and twisting their legs and bodies into the fabric allowing dynamic and exciting movement.

I was so struck with the group that I made a sure to see them perform at Liberty Festival in London and was not disappointed. Their level of technical skill, performance charisma and professionalism was obvious to see and left me hoping two things; firstly that there might be young disabled dancers in the UK with a desire to reach a similar potential and secondly that BESDC might continue to work with EPiC in the future.

A dialogue is continuing with many creative possibilities. As BESDC pursue their R&D in China with a quest to seek out and support the inclusive dance community it fortuitously turns out that EPiC Arts are planning to open a centre south China in the near future. A collaborative approach makes infinite sense in a country that is very protective over their disabled community, and will need gentle and careful development of trust. With a shared belief and incurable optimism for the future the international dance community may grow.

The aerial dance is continuing to be popular with all ages as a fun and liberating experience, and the digital dance project was a fantastic new departure for Blue Eyed Soul - so much so that we’ve invited the other artists involved to join us for our Management Board Away Day so we can all have a play!

We’ve got some fabulous half term creative dance workshops coming up in Telford for 5-12 year olds - do check our calendar of events for details.

There’s also photos available to view on our LIKE Youth Dance Facebook page - take a peek, and if you haven’t done so already become a fan!