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News articles & updates

Raquel Meseguer -A Mini Crash Course in Cloudspotting: Creating a rest space for FRONTLINE Arts festival (aka please save me from crummy ceilings)

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I have lived with chronic pain for over a decade. And that means I need to lie down (a lot). If I want to be a part of the world, to be out and move through it, I often find myself needing to lie down in public. I lie down on trains, on benches, in galleries. When necessary, on the floor.

I’ve spent a lot of time looking longing at plush carpets in posh shops I haven’t dared lie down on, a lot of time looking for 2 free seats on a train if my pain levels are spiking, and a LOT of time staring up at crummy ceilings like these:

And I am not the only one who navigates the world in this way. When I did a survey in 2017 people with Hidden Disabilities* told me about having to rest or lie down in all sorts of places: the mattress department at John Lewis, Wimbledon Court Number 1, their wedding. Those sound quite cool actually. But people also told us about demeaning places work colleagues suggested they lie down in, like a stationary cupboard. Or places people felt obliged to lie down in, because of the taboo about public rest and horizontality. Which means a LOT of people rest in toilets, and when necessary, lie down on toilet floors. Either that, or they stay at home.

So when FRONTLINE Arts Festival invited me to create a Resting Space as part of their festival, I jumped at the chance. They encouraged me to do it somewhere central, and potentially challenging, somewhere we might think of as the anti-thesis of rest: Intu Potteries shopping centre. Which on reflection is the perfect place for a Resting Space. For many reasons: it’s important to create spaces to rest where ‘normal life’ happens; it honours the many stories I’ve heard about people needing to rest to/from/at their local shops; and the space aims to be a community space, in the centre of Stoke on Trent, with events throughout October.

Now in truth, I have developed a fondness for crummy ceilings, and for documenting the ceilings I rest beneath. It’s one of the ways I have found beauty in my lived experience of disability. But that’s not the point. We used to design and build amazing ceilings. And so we invite you to co- create a ceiling installation with us, and save me (and others) from resting under yet another crummy ceiling.

If you live / study / work in Stoke on Trent we would love to invite you to:

  • Tell us what you want of a Resting Space https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/YFMFK88
  • Co-create the Resting Space with us at a workshop on Tuesday 1st Oct (sign up charlie@frontlinedance.co.uk)
  • If you have a Hidden Disability, share a story about a time you’ve had to rest in public.
  • Attend a performance of Rest Room on Wed 2nd Oct (sign up charlie@frontlinedance.co.uk)

A Mini Crash Course in Cloudspotting is a month long installation, a dance theatre solo, a resting space, a provocation, and a community space created bespoke for FRONTLINE Arts festival 2019.

The project aims to challenge the etiquette of our public spaces and open dialogue on the taboo aspects of Hidden Disability.

Full details of events can be found here: https://uncharteredcollective.com/a-mini-crash-course-in-cloudspotting-frontline-festival

* Hidden Disabilities refers to a broad range of conditions with associated pain and fatigue like chronic pain, ME, fibromyalgia, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, chronic fatigue, etc

A Performance for a Visually Impaired Audience

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Performance for a visually impaired audience at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery 

1:30pm Friday 23rdAugust

‘Seeing Me’

In what we believe will be the first experience of its kind in Stoke-On-Trent, FRONTLINEdance are performing a piece designed specifically with visually impaired audiences in mind. They will meet, greet and guide the audience to the space where there will be a short performance. The performers will use text to describe what they are doing. Describing everything from what they are doing and feeling, to what they look like, the costumes they are wearing and the environment they are in. It’s a little like audio description, but in so much more detail, with the dancers describing rather than someone else. 

We hope to make the audience feel more connected, engaged and up close and personal with the performers, really part of the action. Of course, sighted audiences are welcome, but the aim of this performance is to share an experience with our visually impaired community. 

FRONTLINEdance have worked closely with the Hanley Based VI Hub group volunteers to create this piece, and the other work we are performing as part of Appetite’s Big Feast (Sat 24th) is heavily informed by their experiences, challenges and frustrations, as well as having input from our disabled community as a whole.

After the performance there will then be a short discussion where you will be invited to share your thoughts and feelings and tell us what you think!

Get your FREE ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/performance-for-a-visually-impaired-audience-at-the-potteries-museum-and-ar-tickets-69397412529

Come and “See Us” This Summer!

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Our dancers at FRONTLINEdance have been working with our Artistic Director Rachael, and our local disabled community, on our new Dance Hub Birmingham commissioned work. We’ve spent time consulting and dancing at New Friars FE College, the Grocott Centre, Haywood Hospital, VI Hub, and with our own Aiming High, Moving Together and Breakthrou’dance groups. We’ve captured lots of movement, words, insights, suggestions and ideas and are busy turning it all into dance. 

The new work “Seeing Me” will be performed as part of Appetite’s The Big Feast taking place on Saturday 24th August. Please come along and join in with the dancers as they start their 10-mile journey across the city, starting in Tunstall at 11am and finishing in the city centre on Piccadilly at 3:30pm. (Times to be confirmed) We’ll be hopping on and off the bus at various stops thanks to First Group, and will be joined by some very special guests along the way!

OPPORTUNITY – FRONTLINEdance OPEN COMMISSION for FRONTLINE Arts Festival (FAF) October 2019

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FRONTLINEdance is seeking to commission a visually impaired disabled artist of any art form, to co-create a new work or develop an existing work with our local community.  The final piece whether its performance, sound-based or visual, will be presented at the first FRONTLINE Arts Festival, Stoke-on-Trent in October 2019.

Deadline for applications: Friday 9th August at 4pm

Fee: £3,000 inclusive of VAT and all expenses.

Who: The commission is open to those who self-identify as visually impaired

When: 1st September to October 2019

Where: FRONTLINE Arts Festival Stoke-on-Trent (venue tbc as dependant on art form / product)

What: The commissioned artist will co-create a new work, or develop an existing work, with our local community.  The final piece, whether its performance, sound-based or visual, will be showcased in October at the FRONTLINE Arts Festival. There is no theme but the piece must be suitable for both children and adults, co-created with our local community, and be ready to be showcased in October 2019. The exact date will be discussed and agreed with the successful recipient.  FRONTLINEdance will work with the artist to identify a group of local people, and will help to facilitate how and where you will work with them.

Background:

FRONTLINE Arts Festival (FAF) is a pioneering disability arts event, aimed at the community of Stoke-on-Trent & beyond. Featuring an inclusive programme of professional, high-quality, artistic work created by, & for disabled people. FAF will celebrate the artistic excellence of disabled artists, increase visibility, & provide an opportunity for professional development. The month long festival includes 3 arts commissions, performances, installations, will host inclusive workshops, talks, & discussions – engaging the community & inspiring the next generation of new & emerging disabled artists. The festival seeks to remove any barriers to participation, whilst educating programmers & curators about accessibility & inclusivity.

HOW TO APPLY

Please respond to the following questions, and then send as a pdf or via video link, along with at least one example of any previous work, and a completed equal opportunities monitoring form to: hello@frontlinedance.co.uk by 4pm Friday 9th August 2019.

Questions:

  1. Who are you and why are you applying for the commission?
  2. Your idea, clearly stating if it’s new or if you will be developing an existing piece of work. Please note that if you are developing existing work, please send images, sound recording or footage of it along with your proposal.
  3. If relevant, who will perform your work?
  4. Please tell us a little about your experience and previous work. Include places and dates of where your work has been showcased.
  5. Why this opportunity is beneficial to you at this moment in particular.

Please provide an income and expenditure list of how you will spend the £3,000, and a timeline.

For your information, the panel will look for work that:

  • demonstrates accessibility, artistic integrity and quality,
  • is interesting for both arts and non-art audiences,
  • clearly demonstrates quality of ideas for community participation; co-creating, collaboration, consultation, workshops, performing in.

We will consider the concept, theme and nature of the work, and will look at how the application provides a realistic time scale and budget.

The panel will consist of members of FRONTLINEdance and our FRONTLINE Arts Festival steering group.  

The successful recipient will be notified on Friday 16th August 2019

If you have any queries regarding the brief, your eligibility for this opportunity, or access related queries please contact hello@frontlinedance.co.uk. If you require FRONTLINEdance to make any reasonable adjustments to the proposal process, please do get in touch to discuss. We are happy to make any reasonable adjustments as required.

We need a Project Assistant!

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Fixed Term Project Assistant – FRONTLINE Arts Festival

37.5 hours per week x 10 weeks at £8.21 (living wage), total contract £3,079 (£16,000 pro rata)

We are seeking to recruit a Fixed-term Project Assistant to support FRONTLINE Arts Festival (FAF) our exciting new venture. It is for a contract period of 10 weeks, starting 4th September through to 13th November 2019 – or sooner if part-time into full time by 4th September.

(Download Job Description & Person Specification)

FRONTLINE Arts Festival (FAF) is a pioneering disability arts event, aimed at the community of Stoke-on-Trent & beyond. Featuring an inclusive programme of professional, high-quality, artistic work created by, & for disabled people. FAF will celebrate the artistic excellence of disabled artists, increase visibility, & provide an opportunity for professional development. The month long festival includes 3 arts commissions, performances, installations, will host inclusive workshops, talks, & discussions – engaging the community & inspiring the next generation of new & emerging disabled artists. The festival seeks to remove any barriers to participation, whilst educating programmers & curators about accessibility & inclusivity.

You will work closely with the Project Manager (PM), Artistic Director (AD), and the rest of the team (including freelance posts), to help successfully deliver the FRONTLINE Arts Festival (FAF) running the 1st October – 1st November 2019. It is a mixed and varied role, with some level of autonomy and responsibility, and a requirement to work flexibly as part of the team.

FRONTLINEdance has a small yet dedicated team of employees and freelance staff. It’s led by a voluntary board of directors and supported by additional volunteers.  Based in Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire, FRONTLINEdance breaks down barriers to engagement in dance through participation and performance, believing it plays a positive role in integration and community cohesion. You will be contributing to the fulfilment of our vision and mission (https://frontlinedance.co.uk/about-us/).

This is an exciting project for FRONTLINEdance as we deliver an ambitious month long festival and we hope to find someone who will relish the opportunity to be a part of this busy yet small company.

FRONTLINEdance is an equal opportunities employer and actively encourages applications from disabled people. Any disabled applicant who meets the criteria of the person specification will be invited to interview. We are particularly looking to provide an opportunity for someone in the local area who may wish to work with the company in another capacity in the future or specialise in disability arts project management. This is a great opportunity for someone starting out in their career, or experienced looking to re-enter or specialise in this area of work.

We are open to suggestions for a flexible working arrangement and happy for the post to start earlier as long as the post is full-time from 4th September – 1st November to cover the intensive build up and delivery of the festival and leaves time to support wrap up in early November. The post will require evening and weekend working at times especially during the festival.

The contract is for a PAYE role but happy to receive proposals for freelance contracts within the total fixed fee.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Claire Marshall, Project Manager claire@frontlinedance.co.uk

HOW TO APPLY

The deadline for applications is 4pm on Monday 5th August. 

Interviews will be held at our office in Stoke-on-Trent 12th August – please indicate in your covering letter if this date is unsuitable.

Please complete the application form and the equal opportunities monitoring form

Please send BOTH your completed application form and the equal opportunities monitoring form by 4pm on Monday 5th August 2019 by e-mail to: hello@frontlinedance.co.uk

Tag Team Dance’athon!

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Sunday 23rd June – Dance’athon – our next ‘Friend’s of’ fundraising event.

Join us for a fun afternoon of non-stop dance as a tag team, and ask your friends and family to sponsor you! Last year we raised an amazing £1,092.

Help us to raise even more this year.
Location: Chesterton Vision Centre, London Road, Chesterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 7JD

Time: 10am – 1pm (Registration from 9.30am on the day)
Registration fee: £5 for adults and £3 for under 18’s.

Follow our routines or freestyle! (sit or stand). Suitable for all ages, kids to grandparents.

Thank You Leoni!

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Staff at local business, Leoni Wiring Systems, can nominate causes to donate proceeds from their fundraising committee’s activities every year, and Rachael and Esther were truly touched to receive £1000 for FRONTLINEdance at their big cheque giving event in February.

Thank you sincerely, Leoni!

Breakthrou’ Wow Audiences at Victoria Hall

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Our Breakthrou’Dance group wowed the audience as they performed at the Victoria Hall in March as part of the Stoke School Sport Partnership & oPEn’s annual dance extravaganza.

Performing in front of an audience of nearly 1,200, our dance piece, inspired by the film ‘desert dancer’  explored political themes, interpreting what it might feel like to live in a place where public dancing is forbidden.

Thank you for Stoke School Sport Partnership & oPEn for inviting us to perform.

FRONTLINEdance Awarded Dance Hub Commission!

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FRONTLINEdance has just been commissioned by Dance Hub Birmingham to create and perform an exciting new contemporary integrated dance theatre piece for public spaces.

Working with disabled and non-disabled dancers, the new work, which will premiere this August as part of Appetite’s Big Feast, will be inspired by local disabled communities experiences, ideas, voices, stories, messages and themes. The performance will see the dancers go on a 10-mile journey across the City, joining all the 6 towns of Stoke-on-Trent together (Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley City Centre, Stoke, Fenton and Longton) with the aid of public transport.

The choreographic process will take place in community spaces where disabled people / groups meet, and public spaces, allowing disabled communities and the general public to watch this process, feedback ideas and become critics. It is hoped that by being visible and inclusive across all stages of the project, we will inspire the next cohort of emerging disabled dancers and get people talking and sharing. 

Are you a Professional Disabled Composer, Film-maker or Photographer?
We are looking for professional disabled composers, film-makers or photographers ideally based in the West Midlands, Derbyshire or Cheshire/Manchester regions to work with us on our Dance Hub Commission. If you are interested, please email rachael@frontlinedance.co.uk as soon as possible.

Haywood Hospital Programme Continues for a Third Year!

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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!