Integrated Dance – with Louise Katerega

Monday 7^th April 2014 

“In the studio, over time, more and more I have lost that sense of division – disabled versus non-disabled – though I couldn’t run my company, FOOT IN HAND, if I did not acknowledge it in the world beyond. When I am teaching or making now though, 16 years into this stuff, for me, there are now only “a variety of people, their ranges of movement and their different ways of understanding the world” And , for me, they are all valid and all potentially beautiful. I see my job as to listen, to engage, actively make space to discover, to draw out; to connect one dancer with another in a way that compliments both.” – Louise Katerega

This evening Amy D, Amy O, Holly, Emma and James all took part in some Inclusive Dance training with Louise Katerega. Our Inspire Dance Programme is ever expanding and we are hoping to incorporate new journeys regarding inclusive dance.

Louise spoke about the terminology regarding integrated dance (inclusive dance; dance by, for and with disabled people) and the correct terms of impairments, physical, learning or sensory. She stated how every body is able it is just the way in which we incorporate dance into our sessions is what can dis-able that person into struggling with movement, co-ordination and understanding.

We began simple warm-up tasks that incorporated, chair-users, leg-users/standing dancers, acknowledging how small simple instructions using one body part and gradually building up to a phrase can be shown and demonstrated to anyone, no matter their impairment.

We discussed about creating a neutral language between tutor and participants and questioning

• ·         What is the basic essence or CORE PRINCIPLE of the movement/task you are giving / watching?
• ·         What body parts do we have in common? What kind of energy or feeling should the movement have?

For instance, STAND UP “everyone upright; find a place where you are balanced; prepare to move”

WALK/RUN AROUND THE ROOM “travel around the room”

JUMP  “send the energy up; elevated”

TURN  “rotate, change direction”

Louise has worked in the inclusive dance field for over 16 years and through her many years of experience teaching a variety of dancers and their impairments, had created herself a concise set of principles from which to work by when working / planning for integrated dance sessions. 

Teaching / Creative Principles

1. Remember to give yourself time in your sessions and take everything into consideration, whether that be changing, eating, or taking in information
2.  Preparation (giving yourself time to visit the class you are taking before, so you are aware of the participants who will be taking part)
3.   Aim for neutral language
4.   Understand and acknowledge the difference between movement which looks similar (aethsetic similarity) and instigates the same thing for the dancer (functional similarity)
5.    Connect energetically, through dynamics as well as shape
6.     For wheelchair users to offer a clear choice between using the spatial directions OR using the movement vocabulary
7.   Sometimes begin with directionality, for instance letting chair-users lead
8.   Connect through space, time and music
9.   Offer time and find ways for each individual to find increased degree if challenge for him/herself after setting an exercise
10.  Differentiate according to the body parts that are emphasised. Incorporate the skills needed and amount of previous experience, for instance the intensity of the movement or length of a taught phrase
11. Understand and acknowledge who leads/initiates movement. It is a case of process and a change of principle. For instance allowing those who have minimal physical choices to start / lead a phrase and gradually build up to who has the most status in choreographic work.

Fun and creative games were implemented into the training in order for us to try out simple and inventive tasks to assist with specific issues that may occur during a session. For example, contact, timing, choreography, energy building and improvisation

As a group we were over-whelmed by how simple creative tasks, using the correct terms and actively supporting, observing and participating can incorporate such a wide range of disabled and non-disabled dancers. We were very grateful to have such a talented and highly respected integrated dance artist, such as Louise, visit us and broaden our knowledge of inclusive dance which we can now integrate into our Inspire Dance Programme and over a wider range of dance sessions.

Amy O'Sullivan - Community and Youth Dance Worker

Easter Aerial Dance Jams

Amy, Holly, Emma and James ran a taster session for people wanting to take part in aerial dance classes this Easter break. There was a two hour taster jam for people with no experience of aerial work, followed by a two hour jam for people with some experience. artsNK have specialist aerial equipment offering people a rare chance to try these exciting and new techniques. The dance team have been training in this art in order to offer these new classes and jams to people at different levels of experience.

The aerial rig consists of two silks, each one splits into two poles to use. Both silks are different; the orange silk is thicker and offers more stretch. The black silk allows for more grip and less material, making it easier to negotiate. The hoop can be attached to the rig or its own apparatus, for the purpose of the taster session it was fixed into its own apparatus allowing for two silks to be used. When the hoop is elevated higher, more positions are accessible and the technique of hoisting yourself onto the hoop can also be taught.

The dance team started the jam with a warm up followed by teaching techniques of how to use the specialised equipment. Participants learnt how to climb the silks and each had a go climbing as high as they felt comfortable to. Two types of climbing techniques were shown to give a variation. The next technique is the single foot lock; this allows you to create positions in the air with the ropes such as the cocoon and the swan. The swan technique is a beautiful position to hold and is created by locking one foot, placing your hands at the front of the ropes and sliding down them and then pointing your foot to your knee. Amy is in this position on the left using the black silk in the photo below.

Later the dance team taught the group how to tie a double foot lock, this position allows for more complex poses like the straddle back. The team taught various more positions using the single and double foot lock for the group to try out. The team then moved on to the hoop and started with the correct seated position and then the man on the moon position where you sit inside the hoop. The beginners jam tried out the mermaid position on the hoop when you hold on with one hand and tilt your pelvis over the hoop locking your ankles together. During the jam for people with some experience, the participants dared to go to the next level and use the hoop to create the stag position. The two photos of the hoops below show daring leg splits. Some of the group also had a go at the wine position and other advanced positions.

As soon as the team had finished teaching the techniques, the groups were invited to have a play on the equipment and practice the new techniques they had just learnt. During the jam for people with some experience, this was a chance for them to try new and complex positions and also practice any they had just been recapped on or taught. The jam sessions ended with a relaxing cool down to stretch out the muscles that had been used. Aerial work takes strength and uses many different muscles. The jam sessions ran successfully and the groups enjoyed their experience of using the aerial rig and hoop.

Today the artsNK dance team are taking part in a full day master class workshop with Viva aerial dance from London! This opportunity will help the team further develop their aerial skills and take them to the next level! Pictured is James with one of Viva’s team members developing aerial skills on the silks. 

Aerial workshops for young people aged 11-18 years old are due to start 22nd April! Why not come along and learn something new! £5 each class and you will have a chance to learn the basic skills of silks and hoops. Don’t miss your chance to dance through the air; classes will be in the squash courts based at North Kesteven Sports Centre in North Hykeham. Classes for adults and master classes are coming soon!

Leonie Harris, artsNK Dance Student Placement.

Early Years Inset Dance Training

Early Years Training – with Oksana Tyminska

Thursday 27^th March 2014

Today Amy, Holly, Emma and James had a visit from Oksana Tyminska from “Turned on its head” Dance company. Oksana specialises in Early Years dance and developed resource packs aimed at teachers, practitioners and community group leaders to support teaching and delivery of creative dance practice.

Small Steps Big Moves, Giant Leaps, Early Years Resource Pack

Is an early years resource pack giving early years practitioners, teachers, artists and parents the skills and confidence to deliver dance.  Over 1000 copies of the resource has been sold, regionally and nationally, and delivered many workshops on the subject, which supported those wanting to use the pack.The ideas in the pack aim to engage the child’s natural curiosity allowing them to explore, express themselves and reflect on their world and experiences.

Along with the pack Oksana brought many props and crafts with her to help create fun and inventive structures for a dance workshop for young children. We all discovered how dance can be incorporated within youngsters learning and how dance sessions can incorporate small and simple props to help encourage creativity within sessions.

 As a group we looked at the development of children, and how child play can encourage creativity, movement, and an understanding of the body from head to toe.

‘Play is the work of children’

'Children's play should be 50% on the floor, 50% in loving arms' - Jasmine Pasch, Jabadao

Sponges, feathers, ribbons, music, stories, books, lycra, elastic, cardboard boxes were just some of the simple, yet effective, items that the dance team explored , who knew dance training could be so much fun? J

Oksana introduced more fun and exciting ways to bring participants into the space, setting them off on fun and creative journeys and using the manipulation of props as a way that can help move the participants.

Example Structure

·         Bringing the children into the space

·         Warming up and physical exploration

·         Introducing a task or idea for the children to discover and develop

·         Sharing and showing experience – performance

·         Cool down and finishing the session 

Floor play, crawling, spinning, push and pull and rolling onto stomachs were just some of the exercises we explored in order to enhance our knowledge of a child’s body awareness, strength building, co-ordination, eye focus and risk assessment of self.

Fun and creative mess was created throughout the day but through this we found a correlation between play and movement development. As result, we gained a broader knowledge of early years dance and the integration of props into our lessons. 

Holly, Alice and James go to out of space!

Monday 10^th March 2014

Holly, Alice and James from the dance team went along to The Mighty Creative’s event in Leicester, Embedding creativity in the Primary Curriculum. We were very excited to find that the venue for the conference was in fact the National Space Centre itself! Amazed as we walked in we were ushered into a theatre where we felt like astronauts straight away, gazing up to the sky in recycling chairs. 

Starting the morning off with keynote speakers such as Emma Trounson – Professional Choral conductor, who taught us to sing and sing in a round as a group. Also, we heard from Jason Wilsher Mills – Bluejayway Digital Arts, Gary Halliday – UK Film School and Liz Macfarlane.

We were then split off into the workshops we had selected for the day. Holly and Alice went along to the new Primary Curriculum. Holly and Alice learnt about the overall changes in the primary curriculum and how there is now more freedom within the framework as to how to deliver it. There is more intention on finding new and interesting ways of delivering it but contacting specialists in different areas to help with this. James went to a workshop based on delivering dance through the PE and Sport Premium funding, where he found more information about the fund and it’s potential. 

After a networking lunch Holly, Alice and James went together to their next workshop Dance in the Curriculum. Alice was shocked to find that the session was actually in fact a practical one. However, she got her moves out and represented the artsNK Dance team very well! Within the workshop we learnt about different ways you can teach the curriculum through the use of dance. We looked into the 3 main core subjects of Maths, English and Science. It gave Holly and James lots of new ideas to try when working in Primary Schools.

For the last workshop of the day Holly, Alice and James explored the space centre! Acting like very excited children the 3 went off to explore. Did you know that if you put the planets into water the only one that would float would be Saturn? Fun fact of the day! Also, they would recommend a ride on the simulator! 

All in all the day was a very productive and successful one, taking away a greater insight into the Primary Curriculum and how we as artists can have our own creative input within the educational setting.