We’re delighted to announce that the Haywood Hospital Programme will continue for a third year, with the addition of an extra ward being added to our weekly programme, thanks to the incredible support we continue to receive from the Haywood Foundation.
Our aim during the third year of this programme is to reach 880 people with Rachael continuing to provide specialist dance and movement sessions on a weekly basis to 5 wards, which include the Stroke, Elderly Care and Neurology wards as well as the Parkinson’s clinic. We will also be continuing our successful Moving Together sessions, which are free, open to hospital and non-hospital patients and run every Wednesday in the gym at Haywood Hospital from 2.30 – 3.30pm. Come along and join us!
Four disabled and non-disabled performers for the creation
and performance of a new contemporary dance / dance theatre work for public
spaces in August 2019.
Two
emerging disabled dance artists to shadow and gain experience (expenses will be
reimbursed).
The new work will be inspired by our local disabled communities lived
experiences, ideas, voices, stories, messages and themes, which will be
gathered during a light hearted, artistic and creative consultation period.
The choreographic process will take place in community spaces where
disabled people / groups meet, and public spaces allowing both our disabled
community and the general public to watch this process, feedback ideas, and
become dance critics! This methodology will spark
additional and much needed dialogue between artists and non-artists,
disabled people and non-disabled people – in an inclusive manner and with all
contributors on equal terms. It is hoped that by being so visible, we will
inspire the next cohort of emerging disabled dancers as a result, and get
people talking and sharing.
Consultation, creation and rehearsal will take place in
less formal dance spaces, for a period of 15 days, spread out over 3 months. The
new work will then be premiered as part of Appetites Big Feast on either 23rd
& 24th August. It will involve performing indoors and outdoors.
We encourage
applications from all disabled artists at any point in their career.
Required
for application are:
2
years of professional, or comparable, dance experience and/or an extraordinary
natural performance style
Good
improvisation skills
Motivated
and hard working
Strong
communications skills
Skilled
and engaging performers
A
commitment to be part of a team and fully participate
You
must be over 18 years old, have a valid national insurance number, and be legally
allowed to work in the UK.
Desirable
skills & attributes:
Ability
to sign and interpret BSL and Makaton
Experience
of performing in non-conventional theatre settings
To apply: Applications via email are preferred.
If this is not possible please get in touch.
A web link, if available, with footage of you performing. The most useful footage is something short, of about 5 minutes, recorded in a dance studio especially for this audition. It should give us an idea of your technique, performance ability, and improvisational style. Footage from previous performances is also welcome in digital format. All footage should be sent via an online platform link, such as YouTube or Vimeo, but please indicate the moment you would like us to watch, MAKE SURE IT’S EASY TO IDENTIFY YOU.
A covering letter; we want to know why you are applying to work with us. Please use a maximum of 2 sides of A4, or a video or audio recording of up to 5 minutes (preferably in MP3 / MP4 format please) describing:
What
is your experience in Dance or Performance?
Why
do you dance?
Your
ability to co-create with professionals and the community?
Why
you wish to work for FRONTLINEdance?
What
you feel you would offer us?
What
do you find artistically inspiring, both when creating and when seeing dance
pieces or other art works?
Application
Deadline:
Tuesday 7th May at 9am
Audition: 17th & 18th May 2019, in Stoke-on-Trent. Venue to be
confirmed.
Contract Dates (tbc): 17th – 21st
June 2019 (R&D), 15th– 19th July 2019 (Creation), 14th–
16th August Creation/ Rehearsal), 21st & 22nd
August (rehearsal), 23rd & 24th August (Performance)
Applicants
successful in being offered an Audition will be informed by Friday 10th
May 2019
For
the successful candidates,
the planned start date of contract is June. Dancers will initially be on a 3
week contract of Equity/ITC rates at £483 per week as stated above, plus a relocation allowance of @£102.50
per week. An additional fee for performing the work plus travel &
accommodation will be made.
For
any further questions about
the role please email Rachael Lines, Artistic Director on rachael@frontlinedance.co.uk
or call her on 07919 026962
For
further information about the company please go to www.frontlinedance.co.uk
FRONTLINEdance is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications
from all sections of the community.
Appointment
will be made on merit. FRONTLINEdance is always interested to hear from
disabled artists with an interest in working with the company.
Calling all bake-salers, party-starters, wheelers, competitive knitters, park-runners and who knows what else! Could you, or someone you know, help us by fundraising for FRONTLINEdance? From getting sponsored to climb mountains, to organising a local cake sale or raffle. Just get creative and support us in your own special way!
Perhaps your supermarket, office or local coffee shop regularly nominate a community project to raise funds for – if so, please do consider recommending us! Whatever you can do will boost awareness of FRONTLINEdance and raise vital funds.
Let us know what you want to do and we’ll support you every step of the way including setting up your own fundraising page on Golden Giving.
“When we were kids, Rachael used to do dance shows at old people’s homes, and she roped me in to help out”.
So started the long friendship between our Artistic Director and professional TV and Theatre Director Ruth Carney.
Ruth kindly shared her extensive experience in education both with drama schools and her own Carney Academy, when she stopped by FRONTLINEdance’s Residency Week at Stoke-on-Trent Performing Arts College to talk to our work experience students about their prospects in the industry.
The students were excited to get the chance to ask a Holby City director questions, and put her technical teachings into practice as they choreographed and produced their own artistic films about causes that they cared about, inspired by FRONTLINEdance’s commitment to advocacy for disability representation in dance. They also got the chance to see Breakthrou’ aDvANCE dancers Dave and Dan demonstrate original choreography, take a contemporary dance class with Rachael and a choral singing workshop with Esther.
We want to give a BIG thank you to Ruth, her input was invaluable and the students really gained valuable industry insight.
FRONTLINEdance are looking for passionate, enthusiastic and talented dancers to join our community and professional teams! We need dancers across the following categories.
Youth Group (11-18 year olds)
Young adults (18-25 year olds)
Emerging and established Dancers & Makers (21 plus)
We’re particularly keen to hear from those with additional needs. This includes hearing, visual, learning, cognitive and physical.
During 2018 our volunteers ‘Friends of FRONTLINEdance’ raised an outstanding £2,000! This ensured the continuation of our Breakthrou’dance programme, and our work at Haywood Community Hospital. Our dedicated group of volunteers have exciting ideas for a packed programme of events for 2019 which will:
Continue to raise crucial funds for our current programmes
Support the hard work we do ‘behind the scenes’
Make our plans for a City-Wide Disability Arts Festival in Oct 2019 a reality!
Create new project for 2018, 2019 and beyond!
…..and THEY NEED YOUR HELP!
Please consider becoming a volunteer and be a Friend of FRONTLINEdance. You will join the existing team to help deliver these events, share you ideas and skills, and you’ll become a very valuable part of the FRONTLINEdance family.
Grace caught up with her sister Esther on webcam to ask about her time in her role so far…
Where do you live?
I grew up in
Barlaston and Tittensor, but I’ve lived and worked in Manchester since 2010.
During your career, have you always been involved in creative arts?
Since going to
Newcastle Art College, I have always wanted to work in the arts sector. I love
being creative, but I felt my flair was for organisation rather than arts in
practice. I knew that I wanted to work in the cultural or creative industry. I did lots of volunteering and work in
museums and galleries, then in 2015 started at the British Council: a global
organisation with a great reputation in arts and culture, where I’ve worked on
programmes that fund cultural projects in the Middle East and across Europe.
Even when my income wasn’t coming from an arts sector job, I’ve maintained a
connection to the arts community by being involved in the running of SHE Choir
Manchester, which I love to sing in and project manage for, and I’ve
volunteered in theatre productions for HOME and The Royal Exchange. I’ve always
needed some sort of cultural activity to be part of my work and social life,
and I love music, film and theatre.
Did you enjoy your education and University life?
Yes, going to the
local Art college helped me decide to do a degree in Art &Visual Culture:
History, Theory & Management at Sheffield Hallam. During my studies I
worked as an after-school carer for a child with profound and multiple learning
and physical disabilities. I wrote papers on arts in industrial heritage, as I
have always been proud of the creativity of The Potteries, and I worked at
Spode before I went to Sheffield, which has a fascinating industrial and
political history too.
What experience do you have within the disability community?
Well Grace, I was 3
when you were born – so I think it’s fair to say nearly all my life! Of course,
it took me a while to realise that not everyone has a family member who has
Down’s Syndrome – I used to ask Mum why I didn’t have ‘special knees’ (rather
than ‘special needs’!).
You went to the same primary school as me, and because you were so popular, every knew me as ‘Grace’s sister’. I was there at your speech therapy, playgroups, playdays at Our Space. When you went to Walton Hall Special School and then Derwent College, I got to meet your friends – I really appreciate the connection I’ve had through you to the disability community. I wish everyone in the world could have the same experience and that people who are disabled were more visible in every part of everyday life.
What have been the highlights of your time with FRONTLINEdance so far?
I have learned a
lot, been attached to my laptop mostly,
but the highlights have definitely been any time that I’ve been able to see
FRONTLINEdancers in action – at the Residency week when Dave and Dan came in,
with Rhiannon in the office, talking about the Friends of events plan with
Matt, taking part in Breakthrou Dance and Moving Stories at the Potteries
Museum & Art Gallery, and having fun on the dancefloor at the Halloween
party.
Do you prioritise disabled dancers at FRONTLINEdance?
I think that we
work towards disabled and non-disabled dancers both being as important as each
other, FRONTLINEdance is about integration so we focus on both. We also do work
specifically for older age groups and people in hospital.
Do you enjoy your job?
This is easily the most satisfying job I have ever had. To be able to work in management within the arts sector for an organisation that makes a measurable impact on the lives of people who can feel excluded from the arts and society is so important to me, especially people who have disabilities.
Thank you for the interview Esther!
No problem sis 🙂
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Please join us for a week of fundraising to help continue our valuable work into 2019 and beyond!
FRONTLINEdance’s “Give it a Week” campaign runs from the 23rd November, and encompasses a week of special events and initiatives all aimed at raising crucial funds to support our successful and much loved outreach projects.
Give It A Week comes to an end on the 30th November, the day FRONTLINEdance turns 17! To celebrate, what we hope will be a brilliant week of fundraising, we’ll be sending out a big, and incredibly special, THANK YOU message in December to everyone who donates during the week. Rest assured it will be something recipients will treasure!
Thank you in advance for your support during Give it a Week – we can’t wait to show you the difference it will make.
Rosemary has worked as an accountant since leaving university but has specialised in the medical profession for the last 20 years, opening her own company in 2009. She now has clients throughout the UK and is the only person who gives directions by GP surgeries rather than pubs.
In her spare time she enjoys walking and cycling, but her favourite pastime is looking after her two granddaughters. That is the perfect excuse to be as silly as she wants.
Rosemary was first introduced to Frontline by her stepdaughter, who has Down’s Syndrome, and who attends Thursday’s Breakthrou’ classes as a highlight of her week and especially working on the performances. It has been a delight to become more involved and she looks forward to her weeks when she watches the classes and marvels at the way the groups work together bringing them out with so much confidence.
