GD Training & Development Opportunities
Ignite seminar and world cafe
On 3 June 2011, Gloucestershire Dance held the successful Ignite national seminar and world cafe.
The one-day national seminar featured a panel of experts leading discussions into how to support emerging artists with disabilities, and the practical considerations of producing and promoting more work by disabled artists. The panel included DaDaFest, Greenwich & Docklands and Shambala festivals, integrated dance companies Candoco and StopGAP, and the National Trust and National Rural Touring Forum.
Delegates included professional choreographers, dancers, festival and event producers, venue promoters, commissioners and funders.
The seminar showcased new dance pieces and films, created by nine artists with disabilities who attended GD's intensive course preceding the seminar.
GD is now working to convene a national steering group to progress issues highlighted through the seminar.
Copies of the presentations from the Ignite Seminar are now available to download:
Chas de Swiet - Greenwich and Docklands Festival presentation [1.41MB PDF]
Luke Pell - Candoco presentation [17.6MB PDF]
Ruth Gould - DaDaFest presentation [2.52MB PDF]
Ralph Lister - National Rural Touring Forum presentation [1.10MB PDF]
Mike Beeston - Hidcote Gardens presentation [323MB PDF]
Ignite evaluation report
'We would encourage anyone with an interest in inclusive dance or disability arts to read this evaluation as it has information that will be of interest and useful to a wide range of individuals and organisations.' Cath Wilkins - Director
Ignite was a national development programme for nine disabled dance artists to develop their choreography and leadership (workshop facilitation) skills, within the context of developing a portfolio career. Run by Gloucestershire Dance from 31 May to 4 June 2011 at the National Star College, Cheltenham, the programme also featured a day event comprising a Seminar with speakers, a World Café and showing of the artists’ work in progress, attended by 40 delegates including dance practitioners, producers, promoters and arts funders.
The main aim of the evaluation was to appraise the ways in which Ignite was able to address some of the key developments needed to take forward the inclusive dance sector. The challenges identified were: Articulating the practice; Providing appropriate learning and development; and Supporting the development and promotion of work. Key opportunities were: Building self determination; Achieving connectivity; and Working collaboratively.
'The programme was highly successful in addressing these developments.'
Mary Schwartz, External Evaluator
The Ignite evaluation report can be downloaded here
