Directors Annual

Directors Annual

2009-2010

Contents Page

Welcome

Weekly Classes

Training Workshops and Master Classes

Special Events

Performance Projects for 09/10

“Just 2 good Pals”

“Whistler”

Outreach Work

Fundraising Events

The Briggait Project

Summation

Welcome to the annual report of Indepen-dance 09/10. This report includes a record of the core programme of events from April 09 and events due to take place up till the end of our financial year March 2010 and a financial report for the last twelve months.

Indepen-dance’s core programme and activities for 09/10

Weekly Classes

Indepen-dance offered 11weekly creative movement classes throughout 09/10, 2 more classes than last year - two classes are accompanied by a musician at a variety of venues for people with learning disabilities and their carers; from April 09. The classes were held in the following venues – CCA, Tramway and RSAMDthe terms were and are as follows:

20thApril – 29thJun 09

3 week break for summer term

20th July –8th October 09

1 week break for Oct week

19th Oct –17th Dec 09

12th Jan – 26th March 10

Classes are attended by people with a learning disability from Glasgow City Council run Centres, Key Housing, Turning Point, Sense Scotland, Enable, Quarries, Workmates, Momentum and Community Lifestyles as well as various other local authorities from out with Glasgow. Each class has an average of 20-25 participants on a weekly basis. Currently eight classes run at beginner’s level and two advanced class focuses on performance skills and offers the participants the opportunity to be involved in performance projects on a regular basis. In addition we provide a weekly class for young people with learning and physical disabilities called – Young 1’z which is now hosted at the CCA every Wednesday evening this group is steadily growing in numbers and performed a short piece as a prelude to the “Whistler” in November at Tramway.

2. Training workshops & Master Classes

Indepen-dance has delivered3 training courses during 2009/10 as follows:

1.Touch Trust – Cardiff7th – 9thMay 09

2.Jasmine Pasch -Early Years Workshops10th – 12th Sep 09

3.Wolfgang Stange - Amici12th – 14th Nov 09

4.Blue Eyed Soul Mar 10 (dates TBC)

The training workshops continue to have good attendance rates andthe standard of the tutors and the content of the courses have been excellent thus creating a demand for more.

The master classes were and will be delivered by each of the visiting tutors – Dilys Price & Charlotte Aubery – Touch Trust, Jasmine Pasch , Wolfgang Stange and key personnel from Blue Eyed Soul. These master classes have offered the opportunity for the more experienced group of dancers to develop their existing skills as well as developing the skills of our own staff members, dedicated carers and volunteers.

In addition to the planned master classes we also had workshops withScottish Ballet,following this various members of Indepen-dance Performance Company went to the Theatre Royal to see Carmen the latest performance by Scottish Ballet. On the 25th April members of Indepen-dance Performance Company attend an all day workshop with Caroline Bowditch (Agent for Change) and dancers from Scottish Dance Theatre.

Staff Development Sessions & Training

On the 9th June whilst in Belfast – Claire, Kelly, Neil, Ruth, Wil and I attended a staff development session facilitated by Oliver Johnstone of Penna – Belfast. Pena is a global HR Consulting Group. Which help organisations to improve business performance through their people. – This session was gifted in kind from Penna and was a really useful exercise to go through. We used the session to revisit our company ethics, contracts and company aims and objectives as well as working on the subject of working standards and trust.

Core staff members were also involved in child protection trainingon the 18th September 09.

Ruth Massie and I embarked on our Touch Trust Training Course on the 11th October funded through the Scottish Arts Council’s Transitional Organisational Development Fund. The course ends on the 23rd May 2010 when both Ruth and I should be fully qualified to deliver Touch Trust sessions to Indepen-dance members. A funding application has been submitted to the Scottish Community Foundation to run a pilot course of Touch Trust sessions to our members with complex/severe learning disabilities.

In addition Neil and Wils attend a master class with Candoco, a danceresidency in Findhorn facilitated by Claire Cunningham and Jess Curtis and Neil and Ruth attended a dance residency for disabled artists in Dundee facilitated by Caroline Bowditch – Dance Agent for Change.

Board Training

Peter Terrell our new chair voted in at our last AGM attended a training course for new chairs – facilitated by the Clore Leadership programme in London.

Special events

The first two items in this section were not noted in last year’s Annual Report as they had not happened but fell just within the 08/09 programme.

Pre Conference Performance Event29th Mar @ Tramway

Moving On – an International Encounter, this evening offered a challenging and moving line-up, including guest international performers and local artists. Glasgow based Claire Cunningham’s first work evolution which has toured internationally to great acclaim, and from Italy an extraordinary duet The Encounterperformed by dancers Laura Scudella and Juri Roverato who have studied with Alito Alessi and qualified in his Danceability system. The programme also featuredThe long and the short of it a gem of a duet choreographed and performed with Caroline Bowditch and Tom Pritchard, Scottish Dance Theatre’s Agent for Change and finally a duet Just 2 good pals performed by Neil price and Wils McAslan from Indepen-dance.

Moving On Conference 2009 30th March

“Moving On” was a one day conference dedicated to dance and disability giving delegates the opportunity to discuss and debate a wide range of topics such as the status and profile of dance and disability, performance, audiences, aesthetics and critique as well as taking a close look at training and research. “Moving On” was hosted at RSAMD and was a successful collaboration between Indepen-dance,Dance House and Culture and Sport Glasgow.

Moving On successfully raised the profile of dance and disability and brought together, for the first time in many years, the key people working in the field. Moving On highlighted and contrasted current work and thinking and brought into focus the range of interests and issues around dance and disability.

The Dance Exchange Programme 7th – 14th June

25 members of Indepen-dance Performance Company went to Belfast to participate in a choreographic residency facilitated by StopGAP Dance Company. The dance exchange also involved members of Orbit Dance and Company Maine. This was a very enjoyable week with all the participants involved gaining new skills from the StopGAP Dancers and mentoring members of the Belfast companies. The event was covered by the Irish press and BBC Northern Ireland.

The Movement Choir 18th & 19th June

Jenny Elliot accompanied by two musicians - Elaine Agnew and Finn Mac Ginty facilitatedthis special dance event The Movement Choir adapts a Laban-based approach to making community dance in larger numbers. The two-day work shop encouraged participants from a diverse range of abilities and their carers to come together to create a large dance work in two informative sessions, which culminated in a large dance work known as a "Movement Choir". The primary aim of the Movement Choir experience is to offer all the participants an opportunity to come together to dance with the intention of creating a short dance work that articulates the essence of Integrated Dance at community level.

Strawberry Tea Dance – 25th Jun 09

Indepen-dance held its last dance class of Summer Term in the HiddenGarden accompanied by live music provided by Eric Valentine and Rob Welsh.

This annual event gives all the regular class attendants and workshop leaders an opportunity to meet up in the one place and share their dances with each other accompanied to the sound of live music followed by a long cool drink of lemonade and fresh strawberries.

On your Radar – 22nd - 28th June 09

Claire Reda, Bill Tavendale and Aaron Klein took part in this event during Learning Disability Week 22-28 June. The event focused on developing arts ambassadors from different integrated arts organisations who would be responsible to deliver a presentation to a variety of disability groups on the service they are involved in. The sessions took place at a variety of venues the aim was to get information across in accessible ways and opening updifferent choices to people, particularly with the Day Servicesmodernisation in mind.

Dance Exchange Programmeno.25th – 10th Oct 09

Our second dance exchange programme for this year involved a visit from Marisa Brugarolas -Artistic Director of Ruida Pies Integrated Dance Company – Murcia. Marisa will led a selection of workshops within our core programme of classes between the 6th – 8th Oct. The remainder of her dance company arrived on the 9th Oct to perform their latest production “Caught by Surprise” at the Mac Robert Centre on the 10th Oct.

Ability Fest 09

Kelly, Neil and I attended the annual Ability Fest in the SSEC on the 29thOct 09. We set up our new information standwhich looked great with the interactive screen. Kelly and Neil also facilitated a taster movement workshop as well as performing “Just 2 Good Pals”. The Ability Fest is an information event for disabled people to raise awareness about learning, training, employment and volunteering opportunities in Glasgow for people with disabilities. It is a good event to promote the work of Indepen-dance.

Learning Disability Week 09

A selection of staff and performers for Indepen-dance Company took part in various events to mark Learning Disability Week in Glasgow and East Ayrshire.

In August we had two other special events happening………

The appointment of Susan Muir our new administrator.

and

The Launch of our new Website

Performance Projects for 09/10

It’s been a very busy year for members of Indepen-dance performance group this year who have been performing in Spain, London and Glasgow:

“Just 2 Good Pals” performed at Teatro de la Alberca – Murcia - Spain.

On the 4th May Wil and Neil arrived in Murcia in preparation to perform at an integrated dance conference event hosted by Rueda Pies Dance Company. The boys performed “Just 2 Good Pals” to a large integrated audience at Alberca theatre on the outskirts of Murcia. Their performance went very well and the audience really enjoyed them this was followed by a power point presentation on Indepen-dance to the conference delegates.

“Just 2 Good Pals” performed at Southside Festival – Glasgow

On the 21st – 23rd May Kelly and Neil performed “Just 2 Good Pals” at the Glasgow Southside Festival as well as delivering a selection of creative dance workshops to the festival participants – Kelly and Neil’s contribution was reported in the local “Southside News”.

“Just 2 Good Pals” performed at the Hammersmith Lyric - London.

On the 12thJune Kelly and Neil travelled from Belfast to London to perform “Just 2 Good Pals” at the Hammersmith Lyric as part of Amici’s week long Open Doors event.

“Whistler” performed at the Tramway, Glasgow

Indepen-dance Performance Company presented the annual performance project at the Tramway on the 6th7thNov09 this production – “Whistler”was a new work choreographed by Lucy Bennet and Sophie Brown of StopGAP Dance Company,this new work 'Whistler' was a witty observation of those individual performers who make Indepen-dance so endearing and represented a new development in the company’s ambitions to expand its repertoire byforging new partnerships with a similar highly respected companyfrom the UK.3 performances took place over the 2 days to good sized audiences. 400 young people with and without disabilities attended the open dress rehearsalmatineefrom the various schools across Glasgow.

Audience comments from “Whistler”

“This has been the best performance I have seen in all my years of coming to performances” (audience member)

“Powerful performances! Both companies took me on a journey – entertaining with a real quality – able to connect with the characters.”

“Really enjoyed seeing what our young people have been learning. Enjoyed adult performances as well”.

“Quite astonishing and unexpected. I would not have been able to imagine how much, and how well, the disabled participants were able to learn, express, achieve, remember and coordinate. It shows how worth while this company is and how much it has to contribute to the life of the participants and to the public.”

“Whistler” performed at Teatro de la Alberca

On the 12th Dec 28 members of Indepen-dance Performance Company accompanied by some family members and carers presented “Whistler” and “Just 2 Good Pals” at the Teatro de la Alberca in Murcia. The performance was purchased by the Ayuntamento de Murcia and received a standing ovation at the end of the evening – the performance was attended by members of Ruida Pies Dance Company and Asi Somos both based in Murcia.

“To A Bard” performed at The Platform – Easterhouse

Seven members of Indepen-dance Performance Company took part in this project which was produced by Paragon. This production celebrated the life and songs of Rabbie Burns, Scotland’s national poet in this his 250th Anniversary. This production brought together a unique performing company of musicians, dancers and actors from Riddrie Adult Resource Centre, Sense Scotland, Artform and of course our own company.

10.

Outreach Work

Indepen-dance continues to deliver various outreach programmes of varied styles of workshops to a variety of people and establishments.

Outreach dance workshops in NewhillsSchool.
Outreach Programme for Special Schools in East Ayrshire.
Weekly workshops for Bearsden youth group for Autistic children.
Weekly workshops at The Hub Sports for adults with learning disabilities.
A 1 day dance residency in Ardrishaig for adults with learning disabilities.
Weekly “Dance your socks off” sessions for parents and babies –Tramway.
An outreach package for Right 2 Dance – Paisley dancing with a variety of groups throughout East Renfrewshire.
An outreach programme involving music, art and drama for adults with learning disabilities and day centre officers at the Kyle Resource Centre, Ayr.
A dance outreach programme involving for adults with learning disabilities and day centre officers at the Girvan Resource Centre.
Weekly creative movement classes for pre 5’s at Mulberry Bush Montessori Nursery, Glasgow

Weekly creative movement classes for children with disabilities at The Stand, Clydebank.

A 7 day dance residency in Calgary for MoMo Integrated Theatre Company.

We also have continued to provide adhoc “Dance your socks off” workshops for the pre 5 age range for the HiddenGarden, Tramway.

We delivered a lecture at the University of Strathclyde for Community Arts Degree Studentsand continue to support University of Strathclyde, AnnieslandCollege and NorthCollege students by providing regular placements.

11.

Fundraising Events

We organised 2 fundraising events during 2009, a bucket collection in Central Station on the 3rd December (International Day of Disabled), and our second

Annual Christmas Ball on the 18th December.

The Briggait Project

Indepen-dance continue to be involved in the Briggait Project with 3 other organisations – Dance House, YDance and Articulation to complete a feasibility study,develop a Business Plan and Architectural Designs to enable the creation of a facility for dance / live arts space at The Briggait, Glasgow. This project is in being done in conjunction with WASPS Studios. The ambition is to create inspirational training opportunities for all ages and abilities in the cross over worlds of dance, live art, street theatre, physical theatre, circus and aerial/trapeze work. In terms on Indepen-dance we would envisage the Briggait Project would provide us with more long term dedicated dance space to enable us to provide a better service to our users and offer more classes to a wider range of participants. A £6.5 million first phase of redevelopment of the Briggait is now completed and will create over 5,500 square metres of public and private space including:

1,900 square metres of affordable workspaces for the cultural community
58 studios for visual artists
10 offices for cultural organisations
5 shop-front units for creative industry companies
A new city centre public space (796 sq.m) within the grandeur of an 1873 Courtyard
A public cafe
Meeting spaces & a heritage interpretation room

12.

A huge amount of work has gone into repairing the Briggait’s historic fabric and upgrading the building so it is wind andwatertight and ready for use.

There remains some 1,115 sq.m of undeveloped space within the footprint of the Briggait which Articulation and Dance House as a partnership and Indepen-dance and Y Dance as preferred users are currently developing a business plan to start the process of fund raising to realize “The Briggait” which will be a ‘crucible’ for experimentation; a hub; a home; delivering inspirational opportunities for training, making and sharing work in the cross-over worlds of dance, circus (particularly aerial), live art, street performance and visual arts, providing opportunities for professional, aspirant & recreational practitioners of all ages & abilities to develop their practice.

With dedicated, specially equipped studio spaces, the Briggait will be a facility unique in the UK, recognising and nurturing creative interaction amongst the widest diversity of current art forms and disciplines.

13.

Summation

During the last twelve months, this project has increased our weekly creative movement classes from 9 – 11 to a wide range of adults and young people with disabilities from Glasgow and further afield. The members of Indepen-dance Performance Company have experienced a variety of dance styles taught by a variety of professional teachers. The dancer’s company members have shared their skills with other disabled dancers, Community Arts Degree students, HNC dance students.