These bursaries offered valuable opportunities to access professional development workshops, hear from experts in the field of Early Years Dance from UK, Belgium and France as well as network with like-minded practitioners. As part of the conference we were able to see Norwich Puppet Theatre’s Three Colours, a delightful immersive performance using dance, projection, puppets, music and movement. Have a look here.
The bursary recipients, Laura Street and Fergus Rougier, reflect on the conference:
"The DD2 Connect Conference was invaluable to me. I was inspired by some truly excellent speakers and performances. It gave me the opportunity to be exposed to and speak to international delegates, a chance I would not have otherwise had. It has sparked connections for my company; we are booking a tour for our first show and met relevant producers/bookers in person who I never would have had the opportunity to otherwise. It has kick-started the next phase of my work - getting it out there to the people it was made for. It also gave me the chance to see current work, something which I believe is essential but difficult to do due to time and financial constraints. It is so important as a freelancer to make connections and get out there - something which can be hard to do when you have to finance everything yourself. I was made to feel special and extremely welcomed by the Take Art team and would like to thank them wholeheartedly for awarding me the bursary and taking care of me at the event."
Laura Street
"I was able to attend the DD2 Connect Conference thanks to a bursary I received from Take Art. Being new to the area - Somerset and Early Years Education - I was able to meet, learn from and be inspired by the delegates and speakers. I believe that the people I met and the ideas that have been planted will be instrumental to my on-going practice as a facilitator and teacher of music and movement in the Early Years setting. I have made contact with Hannah Lefeuvre, Viv Gordon and Laura Street about observing their dance classes and possible training opportunities, and I am now aware of Take Art's project Soundwaves. I was particularly inpired by the keynote speaker, Liz Moran, and her work in putting children and young people at the core of the community and artistic activities. I will research this further and learn through practice how I can integrate music and movement, both indoors and outside, throughout the daily routine of the Early Years settings I work in."
Fergus Rougier
The Early Years element of DanSCe Dialogues 2 continues into 2014 with performances of Geminus from the French Compagnie Ubi in May and June at theatres, village halls and schools across Somerset. Watch this space!