Category: Work

FLD have been working with older people since 2007 (though as a freelancer our Artsitic Director has been for a longer period of time and has completed the Mark Morris ‘Dance For Parkinson’s’ training programme, and Beth Johnsons ‘Active In Age’ course).

In 2008 we set up TRANSCEND to ensure that FRONTLINEdance can facilitate the need of young disabled artists who want a career in dance but cannot, for very individual reasons, access university courses to fulfil their dreams. This continued until 2013 where it became ‘Breakthrou’aDvANCE’. Since it started trainees have taken part in regular workshops – shadowing and assisting, playing a vital and important part in our education & outreach work. They take part in technique classes, make their own work and perform. The frequency of this depends on the type of projects we have running.

In 2013, Transcend became a 12-week programme for adults with a disability funded by the European Social Fund. Its aim wasn’t to create new jobs, but to give disabled people new skills and the confidence to find and keep jobs.  32 individuals took part in our pilot project with 4 participants taking part in more than 1 programme and 4 being invited to volunteer on the programme. We used Creative Dance, Voice & Speech, Drama and Role Play, to provide new skills and to increase confidence in order to allow each participant to take their next step into work; whatever that may have been. FRONTLINEdance was able to develop a strong partnership between Staffordshire County Council’s learning disability employment team and being funded by The European Social Fund has meant that we have been able to reach the employment sector and new organisation of those who work with adults with disabilities (including mental health).

IGNITE! Funded by Robbie Williams’ Give it Sum was our first cross-generation integrated dance project. It was supported by The Stoke-on-Trent College and Princes Trust Millennium Volunteers and Sally Rew (who at the time worked for ACE) commented that it was the best integrated project she had seen to date. An age range of 16 to 65 and of all abilities took part which culminated in a new dance work which was created & performed along-side professional dancers from FRONTLINEdance. Two paid trainee’s also joined the professional team for the project.

This project contributed to the main focus for the year, and 340 children and young people directly benefited from it. The aim, which we achieved, was to ensure further development and consistency in delivering regular dance workshops, for a longer period of time to groups who were classed as ‘disadvantaged’ or ‘at risk’.

In total seven groups benefited from the project; Blackfriars Special School & Further Education Unit, 3 of C.E.D.A.R.S pupil referral units, which are for pupils who have been permanently or temporally excluded from school, The Play Council – Knutton & Cross Heath, and Chesterton Youth Club. This took the form of after school clubs, evening workshops and extra curriculum activity. The groups chose to perform in a number of different ways. This included performances in front of their peers, their own and at other schools and to family & friends.  The project also created volunteer opportunities for disabled and non-disabled dancers and students to assist the workshop leaders in the workshops.  This project was developed to create a contemporary dance film project (dance, music & film) between students from Blackfriars Special School & Cedars Pupil Referral Unit.

FRONTLINEdance were invited by The Black Country Dance Hub (BCDH) to deliver a dance performance project for Special Schools and SEN departments in Sandwell, Dudley, Wolverhampton & Walsall. Our dance artists worked in 16 schools to create a short dance piece with the young dancers. We worked with a wide range of ages and disabilities, and film maker Matt Beckett from Rivera Films filmed the work:  https://vimeo.com/99346497

<iframe src=”https://player.vimeo.com/video/99346497?h=60f0f13937&title=0&byline=0&portrait=0″ width=”640″ height=”360″ frameborder=”0″ allow=”autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href=”https://vimeo.com/99346497″>Dance = Limitless Value</a> from <a href=”https://vimeo.com/riverreafilms”>River Rea Films</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>

528 children and young people (510 with a disability) took part in our two year after school clubs project. It involved delivery of 5 after school clubs and 2 lunch time clubs in Eccleshall, Leek, Stoke-on-Trent & N-U-L. Along with improved fitness levels, body and spatial awareness, our aim was to increase the participants teamwork skills, self-confidence, tolerance, focus, and at the same time raising aspirations by achieving and experiencing new opportunities and new ways to communicate. It gave disabled children a chance to socialise and make new friends resulting in gaining independence, reducing loneliness and isolation.

In 2010 for 18 months every Saturday morning during term time, we provided engaging and enjoyable arts activities to disabled children, young people and their siblings all of which had a wide range of disabilities which took place in Staffordshire (Ecceshall & Newcastle-under-Lyme). We offered music, music technology, digital media, film, photography, dance, drama, singing, ‘rock band’, visual art, pottery and crafts workshops all of which were rotated each week to ensure a variety of activities were offered and skills were gained. We employed 16 members of staff each Saturday and regularly engaged 30 participants.

FRONTLINEdance are a lead Aiming High provider for Action for Children, Stoke-on-Trent Programme. The Aiming High sessions are delivered in a very inclusive and open way which makes them suitable for physical disabilities and wheelchair users as well as for those with additional learning, communication, social and emotional needs. These sessions are supported by Action For Children Staff.

What can my child expect?

We always start off with introduction and name movement games so everyone gets to know each other a little better.

1. Warm up our body and move around the dance studio in as many ways as we can.
2. Explore different genres of dance such as contemporary, street, country and jiving.
3. Create our own dances and movements.
4. Perform for each other.
5. Play games with a ‘dance’ twist and other games that are used to improve communication and team-work skills.
6. Sometimes we use Disney films as themes as well as using the child’s interests to create our dances and explore new movements.
7. We use a range of props such as bean bags, balls, parachutes, stretchy giant lycra, giant material covered elastic, hoola hoops, glow sticks and chiffon scarves to create movement, focus and interaction.
8. The movement and dance session usually ends with relaxation and we ask the participants to feedback what they enjoyed and if there were any dislikes or challenges.

In each session we break for a drink and a snack, and we provide a range of arts, crafts, books and games.

Integrated Dance for community disabled and non-disabled dancers

These dance sessions are suitable for beginners to professionals. They are streamlined for those who want to come just for fun, and for those who would like to develop their dance skills further – through an advanced class and performances.

What is involved?

In a safe and friendly environment participants are guided through a range of creative dance activities, to gain and develop skills in contemporary dance technique, choreography and performance. Each participant is challenged and taught in a way that is personal to their ability level and communication needs,  within a group setting.

The YOUTH group and ADULT groups have the opportunity to perform in a wide range of settings from traditional spaces such as theatres to the less traditional – outside, for film, community venues, at conferences and as part of a workshop. This gives the dancers varied and engaging performance experiences.

Dance Style: contemporary / creative dance / improvisation / choreography

What is integrated dance?

FRONTLINEdance integrates disabled and non-disabled dancers together within their professional and community work, and always have done. We work as equals in the dance studio and on stage. This gives a very powerful and unified message to each other and our audiences. It allows us to problem solve, be creative and create moves/dance work that can only be created through integration- both dancers couldn’t do it without the other one… it’s exciting!

We have found that using open-ended instructions allows for the individual to respond creatively and artistically without using language that immediately excludes or creates barriers. This allows the dancers to work with their own unique bodies and preferred communication methods.

The FRONTLINEdance team are trained in contemporary dance and performance and are passionate about integrated performance.

New! Breakthrou’ dance Families: Dance workshops for wheelchair users with complex disabilities and their families. Three separate sessions, running at the same time, under one roof! The sessions will be relaxed and in a safe environment where everyone can be themselves, make new friends, and try something different.

To register your interest or for more information contact: hello@frontlinedance.co.uk 

Register here

Moving Together is a creative dance and movement project offering sessions to adults who have long term health conditions. Sessions are fully accessible and inclusive to all. You have the option of sitting as and when you need, and resting as required. The sessions are open to all levels of ability, no prior dance experience is necessary.  You are welcome to join us if you are undergoing treatment, as long as your medical professional advises this. Sessions are suitable for MS, Parkinson’s, Stroke, Cancer and Rheumatoid conditions.

Over the last 10 years this specially devised programme has predominantly been delivered in community settings. It remains a popular, meaningful and thoroughly enjoyable way to spend time with peers and can be delivered in (but not exclusively) day care, residential care homes and retirement villages.

BENEFITS of taking part identified by researchers, professionals in health care, and those who take part: 

Find out more about the benefits of dance for older people and adults