ADAD News
Trust
Trust is important in a relationship and one of the most important relationships for a dance professional is the one between the artist and the funder. Trust works both ways; it requires transparency and effective 2 way communication.
With this in mind ADAD's last forum was organised to bring these two parties together. Issues discussed on Saturday the 11th of June were those affecting the relationship between artists and Arts Council England. The focus was on dispelling the myths surrounding funding and sponsorship. And gave practical advice on the best ways to tackle future applications. Although there was no fairy tale ending with all problems resolved, the afternoon's dialogue made significant steps to building on the trust between artists and funders.
Trailblazers
It's that time of the year when we say farewell to our outgoing fellows and welcome the next year's intake. Each year ADAD provides four fellowships of £2,000 to dance artists working with dance forms of the African Diaspora to develop their careers.
The bursaries can be used to contribute to dance classes, training, equipment, research trips and other professional development needs. Fellows are also assigned a mentor and follow a self-directed programme of professional development for a period of one year.
Last years' fellows found that being a Trailblazer, not only offered financial support for their individual projects, but also gave them the confidence and motivation to continue striving to reach their artistic goals.
'The Trailblazers Fellowship has allowed me to begin my journey as a Choreographer and a director with confidence. Without Trailblazers my Project would have not come true' Maria Ghoumrassi.
2005 Trailblazer Applications
Applications for the 2005/6 Trailblazers have been announced and the deadline is 4pm Monday 3 October 2005. The announcements of this year's fellows will be made on Monday 10 October 2005.
Trailblazers Alumni Launch
ADAD will be looking into enhancing the Trailblazers programme to extend the connection with fellows longer than the 12 month programme which should prove to be more beneficial to the emerging artists and the sector as a whole. We hope to do this by launching the Trailblazers Alumni in December
2005; the alumni will form a network of all the fellows and allow the formation of a platform of peer support and continuing professional development.
ADAD in Black History Month
Preserving our work, preserving our bodies - Archiving seminar and ADAD forum
On Saturday 15 October 2005, we will be holding a forum and seminar at Stratford Theatre Royal on archiving and healthy dance practice under the
title - 'Preserving our bodies, preserving our work'. We believe that setting up archives will promote the dance practices of the African Diaspora as a valuable and distinct part of British dance culture.
Preservation of our work not only helps provide a record of its evolution over time but also provides a valuable resource for the younger generation of practitioners looking for role models as well as the general public who increasingly want to know more about their heritage. The morning's seminar
will focus on presentations on the progress that has been made in preserving our heritage by key contributors such as Beverly Glean at Irie! Dance Theatre, Leon Robinson at Positive Steps, Rufus Orisayomi and Ralph Cox at Laban.
In the afternoon we will link the day's discussions on preservation of our work with a practical session on injury prevention as practitioners of dance of forms of the Diaspora. With the help of Physiotherapist Caroline Marsh we will explore preventative measures to ensure long-lasting and healthy careers as dancers and choreographers.
We hope to see as many of you as possible at the forum as you all have such a crucial role to play in the preservation of our rich dance heritage as artists who have been and still are creating valuable work and as researchers and historians with an interest in the resources available on dance forms of the African Diaspora. Please make sure you book your place and confirm any access and dietary requirements as refreshments will be served.
Forging paths; breaking ground Against all odds - Oral History evening
This Black History month on Friday 21 October 2005, ADAD will be playing its part in a bid to honour the many artists who pioneered the way for Black dance in Britain over the past 50 years. ADAD will hold an Oral history evening titled 'Against all Odds' at the Theatre Museum, Covent Garden, London from 6.00pm - 8.30pm.
This evening will be the first in a series of tributes to those who forged new pathways and broke new ground as black dancers in Britain in the 60's, '70's and '80's. We will also be celebrating the work of other distinguished artists such as Namron, Carl Cambell and Jackie Guy and companies such as Lanzel, Ekome, Adzido, Phoenix, Kokuma, Jiving Lindy Hoppers, Irie!, Shikisha, Union dance, Dagarti Arts, and Badejo Arts to name a few. There will also be opportunities for you to share how these artists have inspired you with their work.
ADAD in Manchester and Bristol in 2005
ADAD will be collaborating on two regional events in the busy month of October. The first will be with Dance Initiative Greater Manchester on the 7th of October and the second with Kuumba and Dance Bristol on the 29th of October. Both events will be forum type events that will enable artists working with dance forms of the African diaspora to network and interact and discuss issues around gaining respect for their work and developing the dance forms in their regions.
ADAD will be making links with artists in the regions to try and develop a regional network of volunteer dance advocates that will work together to raise the profile of their specific dance forms that fall under the DAD umbrella.
ADAD Website
ADAD will be launching its website in early 2006. The website will include the ADAD Directory of dancers and choreographers who are working and teaching using dance forms and techniques developed within African or Caribbean cultures and other communities within the Diaspora.
Changes at Dance UK
There have been some changes at Dance UK since the last issue of our magazine. Following the departure of Dance UK director Ian Bramley; project manager, Adrienn Szabo and finance manager Fiona Mills. Sian Kendall has stepped in as the acting director; Katy Spicer is the interim general manager and Mubeen Hashmat is the new finance officer.
Fit to Dance 2 - Report of the second national inquiry into dancers' health and injury in the UK
Findings of the second national survey of dancers' health and injury in the UK were released at a launch event at Sadler's Wells, London, on 8th September 2005 at 6pm.
Fit to Dance 2 follows on from the ground-breaking 1996 publication Fit to Dance?, instigated by Dr Peter Brinson and Dance UK. Research presented in Fit to Dance? highlighted the causes and consequences of the high injury rate among dancers and called for better understanding and support of dancers' healthcare. The 1996 report gave impetus to the national programme of education and awareness-raising led by Dance UK's Healthier Dancer Programme. Fit to Dance 2 presents and compares the health and injury status of dancers now with that nearly 10 years ago, celebrating the positive steps that have been taken in the provision of dancers' healthcare and highlighting the areas that still require action.
80% of dancers experience at least one injury that affects their ability to perform each year. In this latest Dance UK survey professional dancers had an average of 11.5 days off class, 7.9 days off rehearsal and 6.6 days off performance due to injury in the previous year, equating to a potential cost of approximately £1100 per dancer (over £1 million to the subsidised dance sector) in lost time alone.
Dance demands a similar level of physical fitness and mental robustness to that of an Olympic athlete, alongside great artistry and expression. Dancers therefore need access to specialist healthcare and information if they are to remain fit and able to perform at their peak.
Fit to Dance 2 gives the clearest picture of what provision exists for dancers' health and prevention of injury today following interviews with a broad cross section of UK dance companies and vocational dance schools, which put questionnaire findings into context. Updated recommendations for the dance profession based on these findings pave the way for a better future for dance.
Essential reading for dancers, dance teachers, choreographers, managers, artistic directors, policy makers, dance scientists, medical practitioners and funding bodies, this publication provides evidence to support the argument for improved healthcare for all dancers, and continued research, education and understanding of the relationships between dance training, psychology, health, injury and performance. The production of Fit to Dance 2 has been made possible by the Jerwood Charity and is available from Dance UK. Full price £8.50 plus p&p, Dance UK members price £7.50 plus p&p, discounts available for bulk purchase.
ADAD in Bloom
It looks like ADAD will be in bloom all year as we have another new addition in the nursery. ADAD would like to congratulate Hotfoot Editor Jeanette Brooks who had a baby girl in June 2005.
