Dancing Into The Festive Season

01 December 2023


With the holiday season just around the corner, we're excited to bring you the latest updates from Take Art Dance in our latest newsletter. As we approach the end of the year, it's the perfect time to reflect on the moments we've enjoyed together and look forward to what's ahead. 

In this issue, you'll find a glimpse into our recent highlights and a sneak peek at the exciting events and programs we have lined up for the winter season. We're delighted to share our love for dance with you during this festive time of year.


Little Big Dance Festival & Symposium

Are you interested in creating or programming intriguing, enthralling and innovative dance performance for Early Years audiences? 

Would you like to join fellow artists, programmers and producers from across the world to see shows, listen to panels and take part in discussions about current trends in the making, presenting and experiencing of contemporary performance for 0 – 5 year olds?

Let’s come together to talk about how child-led creative processes and collaborative partnerships can help us all make exciting work that harnesses the magic of dance to develop fresh approaches and ideas for new audiences.

Presented in partnership with Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival and featuring a keynote presentation from project evaluator Professor Angela Pickard, Little Big Dance Festival and Symposium is the culmination of the Little Big Dance project. Launched in 2019 Little Big Dance is led by South East Dance in partnership with DanceEast, Take Art and Yorkshire Dance.

Monday 19 - Tuesday 20 February 2024
The Dance Space and Brighton Dome
Ticket price £50

Buy your two-day delegate pass here.

If you are an artist who is interested in attending this Festival and Symposium and need support to attend we have a limited number of bursary places that you can apply for here.

Little Big Dance is funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Arts Council England, and co-commissioned by Dance Umbrella and Strike A Light. 

Image credit: A sharing of Takeshi Matsumoto's Club Origami. Photo by Summer Dean


Spring Forward 

Spring Forward is back and we can't wait to see you all again in the New Year! 

Join us in 2024 on the following dates:

Thursday 7 March 2024 - The McMillan Theatre, Bridgwater
Friday 22 March 2024 - Tacchi Morris Arts Centre, Taunton Showcase
Thursday 28 March 2024 - The McMillan Theatre, Bridgwater

The deadline to join us is almost upon us! If you'd like to sign up to be a part of Spring Forward 2024, please complete the online expression of interest form by 12 noon on Monday 4th December. 

We've created a trailer to celebrate the best moments of our 2023 showcase, take a peek below. :)


Rural Touring Dance Initiative

A couple of weeks ago we welcomed artists chosen to feature in the 2024/25 RTDI menu, and spent three days together with the project partners and staff getting to grips with everything they need to know about rural touring. 

We were hosted by the lovely Bach Wen Holiday Cottages and supported by Night Out Wales rural touring scheme. During our stay we visited the Criccieth Memorial Hall and Shiloh Community Centre in Cwm, North Wales, to meet their promoters and get a sense of the range of venues artists will encounter. 

We can't wait to launch the new menu in January 2024 and introduce you to the companies we’ve just spent the week with. Stay tuned! 


Job Opportunity 

Bridport Youth Dance is looking for a street dance teacher to take on their junior, middle, senior and advanced crews on its urban programme. Classes take place on a weekly basis at Crepe Farm Business Park, Symondsbury and are presently on Wednesdays after school. 

The BYD year is structured into three terms one being purely class based and then two more performance based. There is an annual production and the possibility for the crew to participate in various dance platforms in the South West from Spring Forward, Origins to U Dance. 

The applicant will need to be passionate about working with children and young people and for developing choreography for performance. They will also need an up to date dbs/ public liability,  will be responsible for their own tax and insurance and work on a self employed basis. 

The fee is £30 an hour plus travel. 

Start Date: Wednesday March 6th 2024

BYD runs an after school programme, performances and outdoor programme - Choreography Geographytogether with short dance films - The Dance Weavers. Its aim is to nurture young talent, inspire, encourage and empower young people through dance.

www.bridportyouthdance.org.uk

To apply please send a letter and CV to Nikki Northover ( Bridport Youth Dance director) at bridportyouthdance01@gmail.com/nikkinorthover43@gmail.com