As it starts to get colder and the Christmas festivities begin, Take Art Dance are keeping busy will lots of exciting updates and opportunities coming to Somerset and beyond over the next two months.

Spring Forward 2023 applications are now live, Little Big Dance cycle two starts with a bang and Our Turn participants are looking forward to a festive session complete with a mince pie or two! Read on to find out more…

Spring Forward

It’s that time of year again when expression of interest applications for Spring Forward are now open! Sign up your dance group to be part of the most exciting and inclusive platform in the Somerset dance calendar, bringing together hundreds of dancers of all ages to perform on one of three professional stages.

We are excited Spring Forward will be returning in 2023 on the following dates:

Wednesday 8 March 2023 - The Octagon Theatre, Yeovil: Community Showcase
Friday 17 March 2023 - Tacchi Morris Arts Centre, Taunton: Community and Digital Showcase
Thursday 30 March 2023 - The McMillan Theatre, Bridgwater: Community and Digital Showcase

If you would like to sign up to be a part of Spring Forward 2023, there's still time to complete the expression of interest form here. Deadline for completed expression of interest forms is 5pm Friday 9 December 2022.

Did you know Take Art is now on YouTube? Check out our channel @TakeArtSomerset where you will find all the images from Spring Forward 2022!

Little Big Dance

Cycle Two for Little Big Dance has well and truly started with the launch of both the artist commission and artist lab, that will take place in January 2023.

Little Big Dance partners came together at the end of November to shortlist artists from the fabulous responses received. Our independent commissioning panel will also have met by the end of the November and selected our cycle two commissioned artist who will go on to create a high-quality dance piece for children aged 0-5 and their families.

The piece will tour to early years settings and theatres in Autumn 2023.

Our Turn

Our Turn sessions are continuing to be enjoyed by both participants and their carers. Every Monday participants come together at St Peter’s Community Centre to enjoy a dance session focusing on falls prevention, games and activities and the all-important tea and biscuits!

Supported by our dance artist, assistant dance artist and our wonderful volunteers’ participants and their carers can come together for an afternoon of joy and laughter!

They even got to enjoy homemade cakes at Halloween and are all very much looking forward to festive session with a mince pie or two before Christmas!

If you would like to find out more about our turn, please click here and watch our little trailer below!

Other News

We'd like to say a warm welcome to Beccy, the newest member of the Take Art Dance team! Beccy joins Alison and Nadine as the RTDI Coordinator. She will be working with the South West touring schemes, the other regional coordinators based at NRTF and Highlights alongside the RTDI producer at The Place.

Opportunities

U Dance Regional is coming to Exeter!

U Dance South West will take place on Saturday 25 March and Sunday 26 March touring dance facilities at Exeter College, The Northcott Theatre and Exeter Phoenix.

Applications are now open. The deadline for applications is 7 February 2023. For any initial enquiries please email udanceinexeter@gmail.com.