For over thirty years DanceEast has been running innovative community projects, making a real difference to the lives of everyone involved. 2016 is no different, with an annual large-scale community event, the District Project. Working with schools and community groups from the districts of Babergh, Mid Suffolk and Forest Heath, the project will culminate in two public performances titled Rock Paper Scissors, premiering at the Jerwood DanceHouse on Saturday 12 March.
In the rural county of Suffolk, opportunities to access high-quality dance experiences can be limited. DanceEast has a commitment to working with schools and community groups and increasing engagement to dance and bringing people together. Dance makes an enormous contribution to our physical, social and creative health and supports a healthy lifestyle. DanceEast is, therefore, keen for as many people from across Suffolk as possible to have the opportunity to experience great dance.
“It’s really nice and different from what I usually do, it’s great to try out new things and get more of a story behind the dance. I can’t wait for the performance”
– Paige, age 16, participant from Stowupland School
Produced by DanceEast and under the artistic direction of Mary Davies, Lynnette King and Caroline Mummery, the project involves working with 11 groups to produce a performance piece. Since January, each group has been working hard with a DanceEast artist to produce and practice a piece which will then be brought together with all the other work to create an incredible evening of dance, showcasing the talent of community groups and schools from across the region.
“I’ve learnt how to do a rhythm in a flow and other people’s dance moves, I’ve had a good time because I love dancing and I do it at home every day after school”
– Joshua, age 9, participant from St Christopher’s School
The groups taking part are Village Voices Choir (a choir of mixed ages from 6yrs through to 82yrs), Holbrook Academy (a high school) and Peninsular Sports Centre (a local adult community group) from Babergh. Newmarket Community Choir, Great Heath Primary School and St. Christopher’s Primary School from Forest Heath district. The Mix (musicians from the Stowmarket youth centre), Red Gables Resource Centre (a social club for older people) and Stowupland High School from Mid Suffolk as well as two DanceEast resident performance groups, The Elderberries (a group of 50yrs+ dancers) and Dance Unlimited (an 18yrs+ group consisting of dance teachers, students and dance artists).
DanceEast’s Community and Events Producer, Jemma Bicknell, has been organising the project and says;
“It’s been great working with people of different ages and abilities and the thought of bringing all these people together in one performance is really lovely. Not only will it be a wonderful creative experience for them, but socially they will get a lot out of it and discover they have skills they never knew they had”
Artistic Director Mary Davies says;
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Catch the first coming together of groups from across the region in Rock Paper Scissors at DanceEast on Saturday 12 March at 7.00pm“The whole process was a continuous sharing of thoughts. There were many magical moments where ideas flowed as each image or thought unfolded to arrive at this final emergence of a whole piece”
For more information visit: https://www.danceeast.co.uk/performances/rock-paper-scissors/
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