Dance South West

“Take Art advocates the important role of the arts within rural and social contexts in the development of the community and the individual, developing arts work and dance in rural and other areas of Somerset.” (from Take Art Mission Statement)

Take Art: Dance aspires to this same vision, which we will seek to deliver through the following set of central aims, beliefs and objectives.

Aim

To initiate, develop and sustain a vibrant dance ecology for the people of Somerset and the South West.

Beliefs

Take Art: Dance believes that everyone can dance and that dance is for everyone, and our work will reflect that belief.

We believe:

• that dance can reflect the uniqueness and diversity of the landscape and the lives of all who work on and visit it;
• that to be locally distinctive does not mean being parochial and we will strive to combine the vernacular with the contemporary;
• in the continuing exploration of a rural dance aesthetic;
• that the central question facing us today is that of identity. What does it mean to be living and working in rural England at the beginning of the 21st century? We maintain that dance can begin to address this question, to define our sense of who we are, and our place in the world;
• that dance can be harnessed to the wider social agenda (eg: social inclusion, crime prevention, healthy living, cultural diversity, environmental sustainability, life-long learning and rural regeneration);
• that we need to build on existing relationships, as well as creating a range of dynamic and innovative new partnerships to enable these aspirations to be realised, and we invite individuals and organisations who share our vision to join us;

“We imagine a future where the place and the people meet, and where Take Art: Dance is synonymous with such meetings.” (adapted from the Dance South West strategy)

We strive to achieve these targets through a co-ordinated set of initiatives, comprising:

• professional dance programme in venues across Somerset
• co-commissioning
• audience development activities
• continuing professional development for artists
• training opportunities
• advice on business planning and funding
• participation projects for:

• early years and families
• young people (inside and outside of schools & colleges)
• dance & health
• adults with learning disabilities
• integrated programmes
• older people

Listings of performances and classes available across Somerset

Staff

Executive Director, Ralph Lister

Director of Start, Gina Westbrook

Director of Live and Theatre Co Director,  Sarah Peterkin

Marketing & Live Co-ordinator, Becci Davis Theatre

Co Director and Step Change Programme Manager, Mark Helyar

Live Promotions Assistant / Web Editor + Graphic Designer, Tom Saunders

Dance Artists Anna Golding, Vicky Hole, Katey Leader and Sue Way

Book Keeper, Keely Guy

Office and Little Big Bang administrator, Kim Burnell

Dance and Take Part administrator, Michelle Higgins

Live and Theatre Administrator, Rose Swift

Associate Artists, Louise Barrett, Richard Tomlinson and Pip Utton