Hello everyone!

This is my first blog ever, how very exciting!

Steph's maternity leave has caused a domino effect in the office as a few seats shift to new positions. This re-giggling results with Kirsten taking on Steph's position as an Assistant Producer and I take on Kirsten's previous role as Administrator.

So...... allow me to me introduce myself. I'm Robin and the new administrator for Dance4. It’s really nice to meet you all. :)

I’m very fortunate to be able to see Dance4 from a newbie’s perspective. Dance4 has a really generous and talented team. I’m not just saying this just because I’m new and wanting to earn bonus points, everyone in the office has been really welcoming and helpful. I’d like to say a massive thanks to everyone in helping me adjust to the Dance4 way in this busy first month.

I’m also a newbie to Nottingham. I commute to Dance4 from Leicester and until recently my only adventures to Nottingham was to see bands play at "the old angel" pub. I now have a few more crucial paths to prime locations sorted, although rather embarrassingly I did find myself drastically lost last week as I ventured out into the unknown. A forty-minute walk down the road turned into a brisk hour and a half track as in successfully managed to loose all map reading skills. I guess it will take a little bit longer for me to get my bearings around town.

Nottingham is great, there always seems to be something exciting on or planned. I’m looking forward to seeing much more of it, ...... so if you see a short guy with floppy hair looking lost around Hockley give me a wave.

:)

Robin

A Strategic Plan

Love,

The Creative Apprentice

X

Update on Youth Dance!

Hello!

So it's been a while since I last blogged and the reason for that is because there has been lots happening! I am just settling into my new role as Assistant Producer - Youth Dance (covering Steph's Maternity) and hiding in my little corner of the office surrounded in a jungle of plants that overtakes the desk - it's fab!

Last week was one of my busiest, yet best weeks at Dance4. Youth Dance certainly took over as we had a weeks intensive for the CAT students, YDE Stride! and CAT open workshops!

I was blown away by the talents and creativity of young people all week, and it was so rewarding to see all the young people so enthusiastic and energetic about what they were doing. So a fantastic week was had by all - well done everyone!

Of course plenty more to be getting on with, but just before I go we have a new addition to the team - Robin - our new Administrator. Welcome Robin!

Keep you posted soon folks,

Kirsten x

Team time out

Nice to have a bit of down time with the team today, after a really hectic period lasting ... oh at least since Christmas.

As well as celebrating two birthdays, it was time to say 'au revoir' to Steph who's off on maternity leave. We nearly had to offer her her own sofa at lunch as her wonderful bump is near basketball size now - she looked fantastic though. Good luck Steph and bring the baby in for cuddles soon!

Also we said goodbye to Mary who's been a massive help at Dance4 over the last few weeks, supporting the CAT students adventure in Birmingham and helping out with all and sundry in the office. Thanks Mary and we wish you well in all the wonderful things your career is bound to bring.

Rachel

U.Dance East Midlands

Hello!

So it was U.Dance East Midlands at Curve in Leicester yesterday evening and what it treat it was! Some of the best youth dance groups from the East Midlands took part in a phenominal showcase of dance including some street dance, hip hop, ballet, contemporary, south Asian dance, and break dance. There was even some improvisation happening around the building appearing between the crowds of proud parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles etc. The poi artists outside and the procession of Dhol drums and dancing led the audience into the auditorium, and was a really exciting start to the evening!

So much effort and hard work had clearly been put into the pieces performed and U.Dance East Midlands proved how much talent there is in the East Midlands! Well done to Linzi and Sarah for all their hard work of planning and organisation - you really did do yourselves proud! Also well done to the rest of the team and volunteers for all their hard work and effort on the day - it was super!!

So what's next in the youth dance calendar I hear you say......

Well we have our Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) open workshops coming up soon! We will be recruiting for new students to start in September this year. Please see dates and venues below if you would like to come to a free open workshop and get a flavour for what it's like to be in CAT! Book your place in advance.

Northamptonshire, University College Northampton
Sunday 28 March
To book call Northants Dance on 01604 233122

Derbyshire, Déda
Thursday 8 April
To book call Déda on 01332 370911

Nottinghamshire, New Art Exchange
Friday 9th April
To book call Dance4 on 0115 941 0773

Lincolnshire, Meridian Leisure Centre
Sunday 18 April
To book call Lincolnshire Dance on 01522 811 811

We would love to see you there!

Application forms are now available on our website www.dance4cat.co.uk - deadline 30 April. Auditions will be on 9 and 16 May.

Keep you updated soon!

Kirsten x

An exciting time...

So, we've had a very exciting couple of weeks here at Dance4 with episodes2010 taking to the Playhouse stage and Improvisation Congregation bringing together an amazing mix of improvisers for a very special one off performance.

For those of you who weren't able to make it along to these events, here's my thoughts on both performances......

Managing episodes2010 was a bit of manic experience for me, which meant that between getting groups ready, helping the technical staff and making sure everything was running smoothly, I didn't get to see many of the pieces. I might leave it up to one of my colleagues who were actually in the audience to tell you about what they saw, but I can tell you that the atmosphere, both backstage and on the audience, was electric - it was such an exciting and exhilarating weekend, seeing over 300 young people perform on a professional stage, many of them for the first time! Alongside all of the amazing youth groups, Vernon Coaker, MP for Gedling and Minister for Schools and Learners, came to the Friday night's performance and opened the event with an inspiring few words.

And then a week later we were at the Congregational Hall, a disused church building in the city centre, for an improvisation evening as part of the city council's Light Night. Improvisation Congregation was a beautiful magical evening with some surprising and unexpected moments (particularly the organ playing and rude gestures to Arts Council staff!!).

Look at for images of both events appearing on our Flickr and Facebook pages soon!!!

Cheerio!

Helen x

Exciting times!

Hello!

So it's been a while since I last blogged, and so much has happened! The platform at Nottingham Contemporary was fab, what a great space and an interesting building. Wendy Houstoun's Keep Dancing, brought the space alive with striking imagery and witty humour. A very mesmorising piece with layers of depth....I could have watched it for hours. Although, my favourite piece of the weekend was New Art Club's Big Bag of Boom. Just a big giggle the whole way through. It was great to see a mixture of work from previous pieces, and I love the audience interaction. It's makes me feel like I want to join in (especially when Pete is doing his crazy eighties dancing - classic!)

This weekend was also a busy one, as Vanessa and I travelled to Leicester to meet applicants for the YDE Stride! programme. The young people turned up with bags of intelligence and enthusiasm - which was fab!! They will all be joining us on the jam packed residential in April where they will learn lots about careers in the dance sector and get to meet some very experienced guest speakers.

Next weekend... well you should already know...episodes10!! Very exciting times for us here at Dance4, so we hope you will share our enthusiasm in all that is happening!

Keep you posted,

Kirsten x