Outdoor dance creates the space to speak
15 June 2021PROGRAMME UPDATE: Unfortunately, one of the groups from the project have gone into isolation and will no longer perform on Saturday. The good news? Company Chameleon will still premiere new outdoor choreography, #Void, created by Kevin Edward Turner. Plus, young people from Z-arts will be perform their creation of #InWaves.
Company Chameleon and Z-arts invite you to a free outdoor dance triple-bill, which reflects on the pandemic through dance and movement.
On Saturday 26 June, we’re bringing dance to the line-up of Hulme Is Where The Art Is, the community arts festival presented by Z-arts in Hulme, Manchester.
At the festival, we will present a triple bill in Hulme Park, which reflects on covid and lockdown and explores young people’s thoughts, feelings and experiences of the pandemic.
The performances are a culmination of dance and wellbeing project, Space to Speak, which has seen us collaborate and work with young people from Trinity High School and Z-arts, to develop and create three new pieces of choreography.
Our Co-Artistic Director, Kevin, is the lead artist on the project, he said: “I’m delighted and really excited about the performances, which mark the culmination of the Space to Speak project. It’s wonderful the performances will take place at the festival, as they will bring together the community and enable the young people to perform and share their work with family and friends.
Wellbeing is at the heart of this project and the project has given the young people the opportunity to talk about their experiences of lockdown and express their thoughts and feelings through dance and movement.
We know it’s good to talk and that sharing feelings helps us process experiences. I really hope the families and people who join us at the festival, are inspired by the performances, and what they see encourages them to reflect and talk about these times.”
Young people from Z-arts, will open the triple bill with their creation and performance of In Waves, which includes music by Aphex Twin and involves dancers sharing little books of their favourite lockdown memories.
Young people from Trinity High School are next on stage with Space, a creative exploration and expression of personal experiences of lockdown, which has been developed through workshops with Company Chameleon.
The final piece in the triple bill is the premiere of Chameleon’s new duet, Void choreographed by Kevin Edward Turner. The male and female duet, performed by Company dancers, Juliana Javier and David Colley, explores the space created by covid and lockdown, and what has moved into that space – both good and bad.
Our Learning & Participation Manager, Sam, said: “Dance is a communicative tool and through movement we can say so much. Dance allows us to express, to emote, to connect and to make sense of the world using movement as our shared language. We’re proud of how this project has given young people in Hulme, the space to speak and share their experiences of this past year through dance.”
Zoe Pickering, Head of Programming at Z-arts, said: “The project has given young people the space to express themselves, to focus on their wellbeing, and have an amazingly high-quality arts experience.
The young people have had a strong voice in the choreography and the making process in this project, which is something we encourage in all the work we do at Z-arts.
As Z-arts rebuilds after this last year we’re thrilled that Space to Speak is allowing the young people of Hulme a means to express themselves, utilising dance to support mental health. Having Kevin from Chameleon as the lead artist and at the very heart of this, with all his experience is integral to the success of this project.”
Join us for Space to Speak on Saturday 26th June at Hulme Park in Manchester. There will be two performances at 2pm and 4pm. The performances are free and no booking is required.
Find out more about Hulme Is Where The Art Is on the Z-arts website here.
Performance details
Space to Speak
A triple bill of outdoor dance performed by Company Chameleon and young people from Trinity High School and Z-arts.
Saturday 26 June, 2-2:45pm & 4-4:45pm
Hulme Park, Hulme, Manchester (next to St Wilfred’s Primary School)
FREE, no need to book
(NOTE: the performances are weather permitting and will NOT go ahead as planned if the Manchester rain is here and it’s wet! Check social media on the day).
Space to Speak is a partnership project with Z-Arts and Trinity High School in Hulme, Manchester. The project is one of 40 projects taking place in and around 40 arts centres as part of Here and Now, a national and local celebration of culture within communities. Supported by Arts Council England and Future Arts Centres, marking the National Lottery’s 25th birthday. www.here-and-now.org.uk | @HereandNow2020