Inclusive dance comes to the region this month, thanks to funding from a national bank. Dumfries & Galloway Arts Live recently received £5,000 from the Santander Foundation to fund a focused programme of work by disabled artists.
The Foundation offers Discovery Grants to UK registered charities for projects that help disadvantaged people in local communities and this month’s Arts Live programme includes performances by two Scottish inclusive dance companies: BREWBAND and Indepen-dance 4.
Arts Live programme director, Peter Renwick, said: “Dance is a beautiful and spectacular performance art and an important part of the Arts Live programme.
“We have an ethos of being a trusted and inclusive organisation which supports all performers, but with an emphasis on high quality.
“It is also important to recognise and celebrate the contribution to dance by disabled performers and, thanks to the Santander funding, we have managed to secure two of Scotland’s best inclusive dance companies to perform in the region this month.
“We have also created an opportunity for local people to become involved in the opener for BREWBAND and are looking for dancers or musicians from the ages of 15- to 25 to be part of this exciting project.”
Amy Slack, manager at the Santander Foundation, said: “The Santander Foundation makes hundreds of donations every year to good causes throughout the UK. We are committed to playing a key part in the community and we are delighted to be supporting Arts Live and hope the donation makes a real difference to local people.”
BREWBAND, a boundary-blurring performance of live music and dance, comes to the Theatre Royal, Dumfries, on Wednesday, October 25, at 8pm.
Created by award-winning disabled choreographer Marc Brew, this inclusive performance brings together top Scottish rock artists Graeme Smillie (Unwinding Hours, The Vaselines, Emma Pollock, A Mote Of Dust), Jill O’Sullivan (BDY_PRTS, Sparrow And The Workshop), Peter Kelly (Galchen/The Kills/Jonnie Common) and talented dancers Martyn Garside (San Francisco Ballet), Marta Masiero (Scottish Dance Theatre, Van Huynh) and Alice Sheppard (Axis Dance Company).
The evening will be a melding of rock music with a folk edge and Brew’s distinctive choreography, to create an exciting evening as much a music gig as it is a dance performance.
BREWBAND will be creating a short opener for this show and is looking for any musician or dancer from the ages of 15- to 25 to be part of this exciting project.
Rehearsals will be held between 23 and 24 October at the Oasis Youth Centre, Dumfries, and anyone interested in taking part in the opening performance is asked to contact Emma-Jane McHenry on 07914157667 or email [email protected]
Indepen-dance 4 is one of Scotland’s leading inclusive dance companies for artists with diverse abilities.
They bring to the region Four Go Wild in Wellies, a whimsical adventure featuring bobble hats, scarves, tents that have a life of their own and, of course, lots of fun in wellies for ages three to five and their adults.
Four Go Wild in Wellies comes to the Usual Place, Dumfries, on Sunday, 29 October with two shows at 11am and 2pm.
Tickets for all performances from the Midsteeple Box Office 01387 253383 or online from www.dgartslive.org.uk
The Arts Live project is funded by Creative Scotland, Dumfries & Galloway Unlimited, Santander Bank, The Holywood Trust and the Scottish Government and the European Union LEADER 2014-20 Programme.
