Dance South West

Dance takes centre stage in Bristol

Bristol is taking dance to its heart with a host of dance-related commissions, opportunities and events, which will thrill dance enthusiasts from across the city and beyond - and encourage greater participation at grass roots level.

The working group has recently provided web presence as a directory on the Theare Bristol website. Click here to visit the site

Thanks to a new funding partnership involving the city council, the Arts Council and Dance South West an exciting programme of dance has been drawn up, including, for the first time, a dance associates scheme, which will see five dance professionals working in residence at key cultural sites across the city.

The dance associate scheme, initiated by Bristol’s own dance working group, aims to create and maintain opportunities for professional dance artists to work with local communities and cultural centres to raise the profile of dance in the city.

Details of the dance associates are:

Seeta Patel will be resident at Arnolfini

Mark Bruce at the Tobacco Factory

Karla Shacklock at Circomedia

Fleur Darkin at Bristol Old Vic

Lisa May Thomas at Picture This

Investment in dance in Bristol is set to pay dividends, with a host of new opportunities ranging from a summer programme of workshops for dance professionals produced by Ashley Russell. These include master classes with dancers from the American Martha Graham Company and Kompany Malakhi, who are one of Bristol’s ‘key arts’ providers. Kompany Malakhi have secured three-year funding and recently showcased their new work ‘Boxin’ at Bristol Old Vic.

The dance funding partnership will also oversee specially commissioned dance works, including: performances by Bristol -based Champloo; Bristol’s youth dance company, Kinesis, who are set to perform a piece choreographed by Hofesh Shecter and a brand new commission by Adam Hougland to be performed at this year’s Dance Village at Bristol Harbour Festival supported by Arts Council England.

Other dance initiatives include:

The Angels’ Dance Academy at The Park, Knowle West, where 1,000 young people each week take part in dance sessions The City Council, Arts and sports funded post coordinates the Angels activity

Steps to expand the work of The Dark Angels’ Academy by creating an urban dance development model so that young people from the inner city and north areas of Bristol can get more involved in dance.

Single Project funded organisation, Creative Souls, will be presenting their new work Journey of the Griot at Elim Churchspace, St Pauls

Regular healthy dance sessions from flamenco to salsa for residents across the city and also for the Caribbean Cruisers, an over 50’s dance group in St Paul’s who have been supported by monies from the Working Neighbourhoods Fund

Bristol-based dance artist Laila Diallo, who will be creating new work, running regular contemporary professional classes and working with Somali women in the Easton, thanks to Arts Council funding

A better than-ever dance village and free workshops all weekend at the 2009 Bristol harbour festival, sponsored by NHS Bristol as part of the national Dance4Life initiative and supported by Arts Council England

“Dance in Bristol is certainly set to take centre stage” says Councillor Simon Cook, Bristol’s deputy leader and cabinet member for culture, sport and capital projects. “

By working in partnership with a host of funders and dance professionals we are able to offer the city a fantastic and dance programme.

“Our programme for the coming months is certainly ambitious. We have attracted dance professionals of national and international status whom I am sure they will inspire and enthral us – and best off all will encourage local people to get involved.”

Kate Castle, director, Dance South West, added

“This is a fantastic range of high quality activity with something for everyone. It's great to see artists and venues working together to put Bristol's vibrant dance scene on the regional and national map.”