Author: frontline-admin

FRONTLINEdance would like to invite you to experience ‘Holding On’. A contemporary dance performance co-created with those who have experienced grief, mainly by the loss of a loved one to pancreatic cancer. 

When: Sunday 26^th January 2025, 12:30pm 

Where: Tunstall Methodist Church, Queens Avenue, Stoke-on-Trent. ST6 4EE

Cost: FREE of charge. Donations Welcome

Book Tickets Here: https://forms.office.com/e/RCcgv8t87E

A FREE light lunch will be provided from 11:30am – 12:20pm, for those who have booked tickets in advance. Donations very welcome.

Please feel free to bring a special object or/and a photograph of a loved one that you have lost. You’ll be invited to position them in the performance area on arrival. On leaving, you will be given the opportunity, to share your loved one’s name with us, and write a message for them, if you wish. 

At 1pm, you’ll be invited to stay and talk about ‘Holding On’. You may like to share what you thought of the work, ask questions, or talk about any themes that the work explores. Please be aware, that there will not be a bereavement or trained councillor present for this conversation, but friendly faces and listening ears. You do not have to stay to be part of the conversation. 

We look forward to sharing Holding On with you this Sunday. Any questions please email or call us, and please share. If you require audio description or a BSL interpreter, please contact us ASAP.

Photo by Jenny Harper, inside Keele Chapel.

Audiences have described it as: 

Powerful | Emotive | Breathtaking | Beautiful | Skilful | Emotional 

“Holding On is an excellent experience of contemporary dance for someone like me who knows little about dance, but thoroughly enjoys watching performances. It is extremely thought provoking”. Audience Member.

“Holding On shows the importance and need for support during the devastation cancer causes”. Audience Member. 

We look forward to welcoming you and would like to thank you in advance for supporting us.

If you can’t make Sunday, then we will be performing again on Monday 3^rd February at NULC College at 7pm. Please contact us for details or keep a look out on our social media and website.

Email: rachael@frontlinedance.co.uk | 07484 874335

FRONTLINEdance, as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation (NPO), 2023-2026, is recruiting for Board Directors, Members and a new Chair.  As a not-for-profit company ltd by guarantee (no shareholders), voluntary board members will support growth and stability to ensure FRONTLINEdance remain a permanent fixture in the arts and disability ecology of the West Midlands and Nationally. 

Deadline for expressions of interest: 

5pm, Monday 13^th January 2024

Find out more about FRONTLINEdance, by clicking the link.

We are keen to ensure that the new Chair and Board members /directors represent who we are as a dance artist-led company, where d/DEAF, disabled, neurodiverse (dDDN), and those with long-term health conditions are at the core of the organisation as leaders, dancers, artists, participants, and audiences. We are also committed to ensure underrepresented groups and communities with whom we frequently work are represented on our Board. As such, we are keen to receive applications from: 

• people who represent groups from lower socio-economic backgrounds, from the Global Majority, who are d/DEAF, disabled, neurodiverse, and/or have long-term health conditions 
• those who have strategic experience of Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding area
• those with an interested and skill in environmental responsibility
• experienced in running arts companies or dDDN based charities
• business development
• those who work in Healthcare including Creative Health

THE BOARDS PURPOSE: to support FRONTLINEdance to deliver with quality, an ambitious activity plan that embeds the Arts Council England’s shared Investment Principles and #Let’s Create strategy.   To advocate for and introduce FRONTLINEdance to potential supporters, partners, investors; to advocate for access and inclusion widely, be objective with the ability to scrutinise and question FRONTLINEdance’s decisions, planning and delivery, to advise the organisation and support in its strategic aims for the long-term organisation development and sustainability.   

Being based in Stoke-on-Trent means that our work is positioned to the Levelling-up Agenda, and therefore the Board should also be strong advocates for programming and connecting to those who are harder to reach (due to geographical, social or economic limitations).

SKILLS, KNOWLEDE, COMMITMENT TO:

• Inclusion and access being embedded and at the centre of all we do and then advocate this externally. The social model of disability is central to all our thinking
• Ensuring the board can be a place where d/DEAF, disabled and neurodivergent people can lead, develop and thrive with equity.
• Supporting the contemporary dance, arts and disability ecology
• Sector development; carer pathways where barriers are removed, for example due to academic attainment.
• Arts Council England’s Investment Principles and #Let’s Create Strategy
• Sound business models for the arts and not-for-profit sector
• Sector development; giving others the tools, skills and confidence to make their practices accessible and fully inclusive
• Ability to objectively scrutinise and hold the company to account
• Supporting FRONTLINEdance staff, to help achieve the aims of the organisation. 
• Fostering relations with potential clients and potential funders / donors.
• Ensuring adherence and compliance around key policies, for example Equality and Diversity, Health & Safety, and in all decisions and discussions of the Board.
• Stimulating excellent, well-rounded and carefully considered strategic decision-making. 

ADDITIONAL FOR THE CHAIR POSITION:

• Have the ability to Chair meetings where all voices are heard displaying good time management. 
• Create a strong, profitable and fulfilling working relationship with the board and FRONTLINEdance staff. 
• Liaise regularly with the treasurer to maintain a clear grasp of FRONTLINEdance financial position and to ensure full and timely financial transparency and information disclosure to the board.
• Approve the annual cycle of the board meetings, meeting agendas, chair and facilitate meetings, monitor decisions taken at meetings and ensure they are implemented.
• Support and contribute to strategic plans and conduct regular reviews of long-term strategic aims of FRONTLINEdance.
• Lead and mentor other board members to fulfil their responsibilities and enable access to training/coaching/information to enhance the overall contribution of the board.
• Annually review the board structure, role, staff relationships and ensure implementation of agreed changes/developments are carried out.
• Encourage team working among board members and encourage them to identify and recruit new trustees as required.
• Represent FRONTLINEdance as a spokesperson at appropriate events, meetings or functions.
• Act as final stage adjudicator for disciplinary and grievance procedures if required.
• Facilitate change and address conflict within the board of Trustees, within FRONTLINEdance and liaise with the appropriate FRONTLINEdance staff to achieve this.

BENEFITS OF JOINING OUR BOARD:

1. Your professional networks will be enhanced with opportunities for skills development and career progression.
2. Develop your sound judgement and interpersonal skills. 
3. Opportunity to lead and work with d/DEAF, disabled and neurodivergent professionals.’
4. Make a difference to the local community! Your role helps ensure that FRONTLINEdance remain viable and sustainable. 
5. Support community engagement and community cohesion.
6. Develop problem-solving, analytic skills and versatility.  
7. You will play a part in ensuring Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire is a place where d/DEAF, disabled people, neurodivergent, and those with long term health conditions can thrive.

TIME COMMITMENT AND TERMS

• 2-3 years, with staggered replacement
• You are required to fully participate in quarterly board meetings usually held via zoomaround the 1^st of April, June, September and 18^th December
• Communication via email and Whatsapp will be necessary.
• Attend at least one performance or event per year. More is desirable but optional. 
• Check emails and respond in a timely manner.
• Ensure that FRONTLINEdance pursues its objects (purposes) as defined in its governing document and other relevant legislation/regulations.

Deadline for expressions of interest: 

10am on Monday 13^th January 2025

Interviews are likely to be held via zoom on:

Friday 17^th January 2025

To express your interest please fill out this online form. https://forms.office.com/e/3UMfijK0Ku

Please let us know if the application form is not accessible to you. We welcome alternate methods of applying. 

Please reach out if you have any queries. You can contact our Artistic Director/CEO Rachael rachael@frontlinedance.co.uk | 07484 874335 

Thank you in advance for your time. 

Pancreatic cancer, compassion & creativity / 20th November 2024 at 10am / Keele Chapel, Keele University.

We are honoured to premiere ‘Holding On’ at the Seth’s Legacy Conference, as part of the 10th year of his passing to pancreatic cancer.

Holding On was co-created with the performing dancer’s Kayleigh Price, Katie Albon and Charlotte Arnold, emerging dancer Beth Hope and community dancers Mary Godden and April Fone. Concept and Direction by Rachael Lines.

The concept of the work was a direct result of Lesley, Seth’s wife inviting us to be part of the day and the different narratives of grief caused by Cancer and directly experienced by members of the artistic team. Conversations from members of the pancreatic cancer community has influenced and added to the work.

FRONTLINEdance will be performing a special 30-minute version, for the conference in this special location. It features recorded music by composer and singer-songwriter Greg Hall, and costume by Ilona Alyamani. A full-length production and screen dance films will follow in 2025, as will a new performance project for those diagnosed with Cancer.

We very much hope that you can join us at 10am, Keele Chapel, Keele University on 20th November.

You can book a place at the conference here: https://shorturl.at/FQX08

Please contact rachael@frontlinedance.co.uk if you are interested in being part of our performance project or booking either work in 2025.

Photos by Jenny Harper during rehearsals of Holding On, inside Keele Chapel.

‘DIY Dancer’, a short film commissioned by FRONTLINEdance. This film gave associate artist Kayleigh Price and members of our community dance groups the opportunity to work together to produce a unique piece of dance for film for the first time.

‘DIY Dancer’ screen dance project, centres on a poem by Matt Abbott written for community dance participant Mary Godden at an Appetite Event. It feature’s in the films conclusion which is beautifully signed by Kevaughn Laing (one of our ATP dancers and now emerging artists).

The performing dancers are from FRONTLINEdance’s community programmes – Breakthrou’ dance, Moving Together and our new Advanced Training Programme (ATP). Ages range from 7 to 77 years old and participants are d/DEAF, disabled, neurodivergent dancers or have a long-term health condition’s.

The film features dancers who had only just joined the FRONTLINEdance community (3 weeks in), where they and others made their performance debut as part of the film!

Choreography: Kayleigh Price and the dancers

Videography By: Jay Gearing Red7Productions

Composition and Music: Luke Marley

Direction: Kayleigh Price

Contact hello@frontlinedance.co.uk for more details, to support FRONTLINEdance and to join one of our programmes. Find us on most social media channels @FRONTLINEdance1 and hit subscribe on YouTube.

FRONTLINEdance is proud to be an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation (2023-2026), which means funding thanks to taxpayers plays a huge part in supporting our work.

We have an audio described version too.

Join us! Wednesday 21st & 28th August 2024

View our Summer Programme here: https://mailchi.mp/60e35d891f96/letsstayconnected-13550099