Improvising Generations 2018
June 9, 2021
A-MUSE
June 10, 2021ARCHIVE: Dance Re:Ignite
(January 2017 to September 2017)
OVERVIEW
The Dance Re:Ignite project was a framework of participatory and training activities and celebrations designed to enhance and develop dance practice and infrastructure of provision for 55+ year olds in Hertfordshire. It ran a series of practical workshops for participants, a pilot for an annual festival for dance for older people, training workshops for practitioners, a commissioned film working with animation artists, and presentation of live performance and the film at the annual Dance Re:Ignite Festival.
““I enjoyed meeting other groups and working together collaboratively. Having fun together."
AIMS
- To address challenges around social and cultural isolation for older adults.
- Dance practitioners to develop their practice to collaborate with participants to contribute to the creative process.
- To explore the feasibility of delivering an annual festival with community groups creating artistic work, including the needs and wants of participants, practitioners and partners.
- To develop a Hertfordshire Dance Practitioners network, connecting with practitioners, participants and partners.
HEADLINE FINDINGS
- The project achieved its aims to enable participants to engage in a collaborative artistic process, to support practitioners to collaborate creatively with their participants, to test and explore the feasibility of holding an annual festival and the creation of a network of dance practitioners in Hertfordshire.
- Dance Re:Ignite is projected to have reached over 5500 audience and participants.
- There is a strong foundation of support from participants, practitioners and partners for this work to continue.
- The aim to address challenges around social and cultural isolation for older adults was partially achieved due to the demographics and engagement profile of the participant group.
EVALUATION
A full evaluation report is available for this project
FURTHER LINKS
- Dance Re:Ignite Festival https://vimeo.com/210311694
PROJECT CREDITS
Artists
Kim Noce and Shaun Clark –Animation Artists, Mew Lab
Louise White -Let’s Dance –Old Town Hall Hemel
Rebecca Benford -Love to Dance (Saracens Sports Foundation)
Meryl Kiddier -Dance for Parkinson’s (University of Hertfordshire)
Laura Horn and Laura Chiabolotti -New Connections (Watford Museum)
Danielle Teale –Dance Artist
Diane Amans –Dance Artist
Green Candle Dance
Partners
Hertfordshire Sports Foundation, Watford Borough Council, Dacorum Borough Council, University of Hertfordshire, Creative Hertfordshire
Funders
Arts Council of England
