“And then they…”
July 2, 2024
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July 3, 2024ARCHIVE: Dance Re:Ignite 2.0
(December 2018 to April 2020)
OVERVIEW
Dance Re:Ignite 2.0 is the next iteration of the Dance Re:Ignite project that took place in 2017. Dance Re:Ignite 2.0 aimed to develop dance practice and infrastructure for 55+ year olds in Hertfordshire. It took place between December 2018 and April 2020. It was driven by the evidence from the 2017 project of the positive impact shared collaborative dance engagement has on peoples’ lives and that contributing to an artistic product increases confidence, self-esteem and pride. There were eight proposed strands of work that interlinked to support the project’s overall aim: Commissioned work, Tour and Workshops, Dance Festival, Film, Practitioner Training, Practitioner Network, Intern.
AIMS
The goal of the project was to develop dance practice and infrastructure for 55+ year olds in Hertfordshire, within that goal there were the following four aims:
- Develop skills in local practitioners and participants
- Increase feelings of wellbeing in participants through creative collaboration
- Test and explore barriers to engagement
- Foster new and develop existing partnerships
HEADLINE FINDINGS
- The goal of developing an infrastructure for dance practice and dance opportunities for older people in Hertfordshire has been met and continues to progress. This is through the combined approach of developing the skills of local practitioners in leading dance for older people, increasing network connections for dance practitioners, and providing dance opportunities for older people
- New audiences have been reached through the ON TOUR strand via performances at Sheltered Housing and new community and cultural venues.
- The number of attendees, and the overall responses to the Festival days demonstrate there is a desire for this kind of opportunity in the county
- Unexpected positive outcomes for the participant performers in the ON TOUR companies. Social connections, increased mental and physical wellbeing have been greater than anticipated
- Participants and practitioners all identified new skills learned or developed
- An emerging Dance Practitioners’ Network has been established, with potential for growth
- BEEE Creative has taken the learning from year 1 and applied it year 2. This learning has had wider influence on BEEE Creative’s business development.
EVALUATION
A full evaluation report is available for this project
PROJECT CREDITS
Artists
Danielle Teale
Diane Amans
Green Candle
Tim Casson and Tom Butterworth
Moving Memory Dance Theatre
Filippa Pereira-Stubbs
Louise White, Dacorum Community Dance
Laura Horn
Partners
Herts Sports Partnership
Saracens Sports Foundation
Watford Borough Council
The Old Town Hall (Dacorum Borough Council)
Welwyn Hatfield Council
Hertfordshire Music Service/Creative Hertfordshire
Trestle Arts Base
Royston Festival/Creative Royston
Three Rivers District Council
Stevenage Borough Council
Funder
Arts Council of England
