Six new People Dancing projects have been commissioned to take place across the region over the next three years as part of the West Midlands Culture Programme for London 2012. Here’s my best shot at explaining them all.
Arts Alive’s ‘SHIFT!’ has been commissioned as a series of performances and workshops across rural Shropshire, while Dancefest’s ‘12’ is a Worcestershire-based dance project that builds from grassroots level to a high profile site-specific video performance with opportunities for mass participation.
Mercurial Dance’s ‘The Bubble Chamber’ is a programme of dance and technology activity in ‘void’ shop spaces created with young people aged 14–19. ‘In the Further Soil’ is a sampad project to connect contemporary British Asian dance forms with artists from the UK and India.
Community Vibe’s ‘Fit and Funky’ will work with Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and the local community to create a piece of dance theatre which explores the modern misconceptions of mental health.
And finally, Dudley Performing Arts’ ‘Making Links’ is inspired by the chain-making heritage of the Black Country. This dance programme will link unique Black Country stories in site-specific and large-scale performance venues.
Phew.
