What a week! Dance Transformations now feels real....thanks to a wonderful day at Birmingham DanceXchange with project partners, associate artists, and West Midlands based emerging artists. Introducing the programme and discussing general ethos reinforced further the significance of DT and working in partnership with regional organisations to make it happen. Ok..........time in a beautiful studio, mentor support, a bit of cash, pure exploration, conversation, a supportive network of like minded people...........what could be a better way to spend your time?

'Spice of Life' tomorrow 2.30/7.30 - get there! Merv & Nick blew me away, exceptionally focused and committed to being the best they can possibly be, exceptional human beings - fully realising a performance - content devised by them. Their duet sits alongside live drumming, a samba band, Arty Party, a magician and much more. Loved being in the theatre, loved singing 'Something In Side So Strong' at the top of my voice, loved being amongst friends without having to manage, produce or organise a cast of 35 on stage. Thanks Rob (Spice of Life director) it was fantastic to sit back and enjoy......and laugh.......and sing............and watch Nick & Merv with pride and total respect.

This week I have worked in the office, been to London and back in one day, led a training day for 18 people, launched Dance Transformations, rehearsed a duet, spent a day in the theatre, constructed a powerpoint, had many phone conversations, cuddled my boy, danced in the kitchen, been way to tired to function, drank to much coffee BUT as this period of craziness comes to end it has been very satisfying, BES has achieved a lot and so have I.

Independance workshops in Glasgow

Rachel Liggitt and I spent two days teaching in Glasgow. Indepen-Dance are an inclusive dance company based there. One day was a workshop held for company members. This session had an exciting beginning due to the fire alarm going off and everyone needing to evacuate...in the rain... Unfortunately, or fortunately depending how you want to look at it, I was asked to stay upstairs, outside near an assembly point at the top of the stairs!!!! luckily it was a false alarm...Phew!

Indepen-Dance are a lively group of experienced adults who have a range of physical and learning disabilities. I had a wonderful day seeing the dancers really working hard and having fun. We gave them quite a lot of tasks to do and they produced some beautiful work.

Our second day was to deliver a '50 ways' professional training course. This was fully booked which clearly demonstrates the demand for such training. Dance artists and teachers from all over Scotland attended the day including one teacher from Ireland. There was a great sense of willingness to share experiences, ask questions and create debate around inclusive practise. Rachel and I had a wonderful day and I hope we can work with Indepen-Dance again in the near future.

summer aerial workshops

I hitched up the caravan and moved to Bishops Castle for ten days in August, combining the aerial workshops with a holiday in the beautiful Shropshire hills.
Based at the wonderful community venue, SPaRc, four separate groups met to learn the basics of aerial work and develop their creative dance ideas.
Daily session for local children and teenagers plus an evening session for adults were all enthusiastically received. We played with gravity, stretched our bodies and imaginations, made work together and separately and finally invited friends and family to come and see what we’d achieved.
“Never seen him so comfortable in movement” “you all looked stunning”
“Jess came home with inner confidence” audience feedback

In the second week a group of disabled artists from Epic Arts based in Cambodia joined with Blue Eyed Soul for an exchange of ideas and an inspiring and fearless two days on the ropes.

lots of lovely photos to come...