ANNUAL REVIEW 07/08

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‘Dance first, think later, it’s the natural order.’

SAMUEL BECKETT

DANCE IN SCHOOLS INITIATIVE (DISI) The DISI has provided dance workshops in curriculum time in schools in 31 Local Authority areas in Scotland, and has achieved it’s principal objective of increasing physical activity among children and young people through dance. In its 3rd and final year of operation the DISI:

rolled out in 11 local authority areas • was delivered in 356 schools• worked with over 83,000 children• delivered in-service training sessions to over 235 teachers•

PROJECT Y The second year of the 2-year pilot Project Y took place from 8 July to 4 August 2007. 27 young dancers from Scotland and Northern Ireland took part and the company were based at The Space in Dundee (home of the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance). The company worked with four choreographers, all very different in style and process - Lisi Perry, Katy McKeown, Thomas Small and Andy Howitt. The Company toured to The Space in Dundee, The Arches in Glasgow (two nights) and The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen. The pieces all received positive reactions, and the production sold out both Glasgow performances.

‘catch them if you can’THE HERALD ON PROJECT Y 2007 at The Arches, Glasgow

SUMMER PROJECTSIn 2007 YDance introduced a new performance based summer project based on the story of Alice in Wonderland. Alice in Urbanland offered participants the opportunity to perform in a full length piece telling a traditional story in a contemporary setting, using contemporary cultural references familiar to young people today. Two week-long programmes took place, in Rutherglen and Bishopbriggs where a team of 8 dance workers worked with 26 and 36 participants respectively. The performance included 2 professional dancers from the company dancing the lead roles of Alice and the White Rabbit, whilst participants performed the other roles of the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatters Tea Party and the larger cast pieces.

In addition to the new production based projects summer workshop weeks also took place in:

Annandale • Campbeltown• Dumfries• Kirkcudbright• Langholm• Stranraer• Shetland•

DISI rolled out in the following areas:Aberdeen• Angus• East Ayrshire• East Lothian• Fife• North Lanarkshire• Renfrewshire• Shetland• South Ayrshire, • West Dunbartonshire • Western Isles•

174 separate events

‘The DISI clearly generated a great deal of excitement

in schools when the workshops were underway.

Teachers felt it promoted a sense of freedom and enhanced the confidence of pupils;

potentially important determinants of longer-term participation.DANCE IN SCHOOLS INITIATIVE FINAL EVALUATION REPORT, CAHRU

(the full report can be downloaded from www.education.ed.ac.uk)

105,815 attendances

PARTICIPATION PROJECTS Big Lottery Project - out of schools hours project based in five areas (Glasgow, Inverclyde, Midlothian, West Lothian and Argyll & Bute) aimed at teenagers, and supplemented by a mentoring programme for volunteers.Under The Same Sky - a weekly dance workshop aimed at young asylum seekers in Glasgow in association with the Scottish Refugee Council.Jump Start, Orkney - involved over 300 performers from schools and a range of sports clubs, including par-ticipants in judo, karate, fencing, free running, pony trekking and octopush and ended with a performance at the Pickaquoy Sports & Leisure Centre. General Workshops - with Perth Youth Theatre, Cornton Vale Women’s Prison, dance workshops for schools/out of school clubs/youth organisations across Scotland and other general workshops taking place as far afield as Lochgilphead, Shetland and Stranraer.

PERFORMANCE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE Olga the BrolgaToured for the second time toured May and June 2007 performing in:

schools in Scotland • Lakeside International Children’s Festival,Nottingham• Ciao! Festival in Bracknell • Unicorn Theatre in London•

CorryvreckanA new production based around the facts and legends surrounding the Corryvreckan Whirlpool – one of the most dangerous whirlpools in the world - which is situated off the coast of Jura. The production was developed through workshops with young people in live in the area surrounding the whirlpool and toured to the following destinations in autumn 2007:

Across Scotland• Baboro Festival in Galway • Roscommon Arts Centre, Roscommon•

MULTIMEDIA RESOURCES & INSERVICE TRAININGWork continued on the latest Codeblue Multimedia/YDance collaboration - Choreographic - with a view to launching at the start of 2009. The product is aimed at young dancers aged sixteen years and over and includes a virtual ‘theatre’ space, danceblog, moodboard, study centre and a video/photographic library. YDance is delighted that both Scottish Ballet and Scottish Dance Theatre have provided video input including new interviews with choreographers and dancers, for the resource.

24 In-Service training sessions were delivered to primary and PE teachers as part of the Dance in Schools Initiative, with over 400 teachers taking part. In addition, a further 15 general in-service training sessions took place during the year, involving 326 participants. YDance also provided training opportunities for the Uni-versity of Glasgow Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Physical Education course and worked with dance students at the Old Museum Arts Centre in Belfast.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTYDance remains committed to supporting core staff, full-time dance workers and freelance staff to develop their skills and themselves. During 2007/08 Company employees took part in a range of different training opportunities provided in-house and by external organisations including the Management Centre, the Arts Marketing Association and theIndependent Theatre Council.

105,815 attendances 9065 audience members 174 performances

FUNDERS

The following Local Authorities supported the Company through project grants and purchasing services:

Argyll & Bute, Dumfries & Galloway, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire,

East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, Orkney Islands,

Perth & Kinross, Shetland Islands, South Lanarkshire & Stirling.

We would like to thank everyone who supported us in 2007/08.

THE FUTURE

FREE TO DANCEAfter the success of the Dance In Schools Initiative we are delighted that the Scottish Government Health Improvement Strategy Division are funding this new three year project to increase physical activity among teenage girls in Glasgow, Ayrshire and Orkney.

PROJECT YThis two-year pilot project has been a great success and grown outwith the summer period undertaking exchanges with groups in Marseille and Linkoping, Sweden and working with the Scottish Youth Theatre and the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland on a production for Homecoming 2009. YDance is continuing to develop Project Y as a showcase for the best young dancers in Scotland and efforts are being made to secure future core funding for this young Company.

CHOREOGRAPHICThis new multimedia resource will be launched in 2008-09, and we will also launch a re-developed website, offering increased interactivity and online purchasing for CD-ROMs and other products.

OTHER YDANCE PLANSWe are continuing to advocated the promotion of dance in schools as part of the new Curriculum for Excellence, and to work with other dance agencies in Scotland to facilitate delivery for children and young people at all levels. We are also attempting to source funding for new professional dance productions created specifically for young people.

The Hugh Fraser Foundation

THE BOARDBoard members David Watt, Alan Skutecki and Jacqueline McKay stood down - YDance would like to thank them for their contributions to the growth of the company.

Zoe van Zwanenberg returned to the Board and Gordon McAllister was elected as treasurer. In addition, Mhairi Currie, Ian Dewar and Sue Oliver were appointed as Directors during the year.

STAFFINGCatriona Johnstone joined the team as YDance Dance Apprentice. Katy McKeown left to pursue freelance work - the Board and senior staff would like to record their thanks for her contribution to the Company. Anna Kenrick took on the role of Project Director and Victoria Ram filled the new post of Marketing Assistant. Lauren Ferguson returned from maternity leave, and thanks are due to Suzanne Armstrong, who covered her post. Yvonne Young, Dance Development Officer is currently on maternity leave and her post is being covered by Sarah Stuart.

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