European Aerial Dance Festival 2014 – Brighton Dome/Corn Exchange

Read about James' time at the European Aerial Dance Festival this summer:

 

I was very fortunate enough to be granted the opportunity to attend the EADF this year in Brighton. I arrived on Sunday 3^rd August to the glorious seaside city and checked myself in to the hotel, breathed in the glorious sea air, admired the beautiful views and prepared my mind and body for the very demanding, challenging and thrilling week ahead. I attended the festival from Monday 4^th – Friday 8^th August with a 9:00am start – 7:00pm finish each day – I know… a whole week of aerial classes and training… I must have been mad! Nevertheless it proved to be one of the most enriching, rewarding, and outstanding experiences of both my professional and personal life, such a revelation!

The festival featured an array of classes for which the person attending could choose according to their ability and personal preference/strengths. Classes such as Trapeze, Silks, Counterweight Harness and Vertical Dance etc. were just a handful to choose from. However I decided to opt for Cocoon and Play, Trapeze, Counterweight Harness, Counterbalance and Partnering Work along with a Warm Up which consisted of dance and a cool down of Contact Improvisation. I was in paradise.

Every morning would begin with your chosen warm up, in this case mine was Dance. A very polite, calm French young woman called Magalie delivered dance routines, stretch exercises and allowed us to focus on the flow, execution and freedom of the dance. It was so exhilarating to begin the day with a fresh, innovative dance class and really prepared my body for the day ahead and the days that followed. Moving on to my first class (Cocoon & Play) kindly lead by two aerial artists and performers from the beautifully intrinsic Fidget Feet Aerial Company based in Ireland. I of course learnt new tricks, found interesting ways to get into the cocoon but the thing that really changed my perspective was how driven they were to ensure we were following their instructions and focused on executing the tasks properly, safely and with the right technique. It really did open my eyes to the way I view aerial work and in particular made me find an even bigger passion for aerial dance. They taught us to be creative, explore and most importantly enjoy every second of being in the air, dancing and using the equipment.

And so after a quick break it was on to my next workshop – Counterweight Harness. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this particular piece of aerial equipment it basically consists of one person wearing a harness to which they secure themselves either side of their hips to a solid metal bar above their heads (a flyer) which is kept elevated by another person in a harness on a ladder who acts as their counterweight. More simply if I were the counterweight and were to climb down then the flyer would be lifted up. My first experience of this workshop was truly amazing. Strapped into the harness and slightly elevated in the air meant I could tackle rotations, forward balances and spins. For someone who suffers from motion sickness it wasn’t the greatest of things to be doing, I did however have a very enjoyable but sickly experience. As the week went on I decided to avoid the spinning and instead acted as the counterweight. Full attention, precision and clear communication were all needed by both the flyer and counterweight to ensure no one injured themselves. It was a completely new aerial experience for me and one that I thoroughly enjoyed, I would definitely attend further classes/workshops.

My final aerial workshop was the Trapeze. This was a piece of equipment which I have had experience as well as having the same principle knowledge of the hoop so I wasn’t too apprehensive when using it. Serenity Smith-Fortune who delivered the class was an American born aerial extreme enthusiast who along with her twin sister help found a circus school/university in the States. The one thing I really admired about Serenity’s guidance was her patience, and attention to detail. She would divide her tie equally with participants and ensure everyone was working to a comfortable level. She challenged us with difficult moves and allowed us each day to work towards improving and adding to a sequence. Trapeze I felt combined my experience of the silks and hoop. Having the ropes which could be manipulated, used to climb and slide down etc. as well as having the solid structure and support of the bar made way for interesting and exciting stances, poses and continual movements.
 
Attending the festival and participating in all of the classes was at times very frustrating by not being able to execute a specific move or losing grip, becoming fatigue and wanting to give up but having the encouragement of the artists and participants around you gave you the rush to carry on and try and try again. I learnt a tremendous amount not just about being an aerialist but what it can offer, how much more an aerial piece of work can be viewed if you truly embody the piece of equipment, how you interact with it and respond to unexpected incidents. Taken part in and viewing aerial work is mind-blowing, exciting and complex. It is different and is vastly becoming more and more popular in Britain. I will continue along with the other artsNK Dance Team Members to push and inspire and reveal aerial dance capabilities but please if you haven’t experienced any such thing then I beg you… please do, you won’t be disappointed!

Thank you to artsNK for agreeing to let me go. Hopefully I or the other dance team members will be attending next year. Keep your eyes and ears open.

For more info on the EADF then please visit: http://www.gravity-levity.net/events/european-aerial-dance-festival-eadf-august-4th-10th-2014/

Taking Dance to New Heights

The artsNK Dance Team have recently launched aerial dance, and exciting new addition to our dance programme.

 

Aerial dance provides you with the opportunity to take your dance to new levels with sessions delivered from the North Kesteven Centre in North Hykeham on our newly erected aerial rig. Aerial dance is an acrobatic dance style involving equipment such as aerial silks and hoops, and is a challenging and stimulating activity which people of all abilities can participate in.

 

 

Those who attended the 2013 Zygote Festival in Sleaford will have had the chance to witness some of the stunning movements that can be achieved using silks when our rig was erected on Eastgate Green during the festival.

 

 



Fancy giving aerial dance a try? Adult classes (16+) run every Wednesday from 7-8.30pm at the North Kesteven Centre at a cost of £6 per week, with classes for young people (10+) held at the centre every Tuesday from 4.30-6pm at a cost of £5 per week.

For more information about aerial dance or to book a place at a session please contact Amy on amy.dalton@litc.org.uk

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.

Ockhams Razor presents: The Mill

Wednesday 26^th February 2014 at The Lincoln Drill Hall

Ockhams Razor presents The Mill: Review

Taken from the Ockhams Razor website; We are an aerial theatre company who combine circus and visual theatre to make work that is arresting and entertaining. This is the company’s first full length piece of work and it didn’t disappoint. The artsNK dance team are currently looking to develop and extend their line of aerial work and so this was a perfect performance for us to watch and gain insight and inspiration. 

As we entered the performance space the audience were greeted by the sight of a spectacular scene of a 7 meter high rig aerial rig which included a giant wheel, ropes and wires. The piece featured five performers/aerialists who contributed equally throughout the whole piece. In terms of a narrative, as the title suggests The Mill; the performers present themselves as industrial style workers, feared by failure they must conform and work to the orders of the factory, however things start to fall apart and they must quickly adapt, solve and unite to find a solution. Throughout the piece the performers worked on and around most of the equipment including the massive steel and wooden wheel, ropes and actual rig itself.

It was such a delight to see an aerial company show imagination and creativity by not using standard aerial equipment such as trapeze, silk or hoop for example. I believe that this made the piece highly original and unique as the equipment, costumes, performers, space and rig became a collective and all worked successfully off each other. They offered moments of comedy provided suspense whilst still staying true to their company name and narrative of the piece. Overall I found it to be mesmerizing, playful and gripping. Those wishing to see something new and exciting I would highly recommend you buy a ticket. Please support Ockhams Razor by visiting their website or alternatively visiting social networking sites.

Be sure to keep an eye out for artNK’s aerial development with some exciting prospects coming your way!

James Kitney, Community Dance Artist – artsNK

What a busy week!

After last Sundays Zygote Festival, there was no rest for the Dance Team with another jam packed week ahead.
Monday through to Wednesday saw our Aerial workshops being held at Northgate Sports Hall in Sleaford.  On Monday, participants were lucky enough to be taught by Joe from CircusMASH UK, who also recently trained members of the Dance Team.

Amy O' Sullivan, one of the Dance Artists from artsNK, came along to the workshops. When asked what she thought about the workshops, this is what she had to say "'After taking part in the aerial workshops for 2 days, I now miss being upside down and in the air so much! Although I prefered performing the still positions on the hoop, I gained more confidence on the second day of the silks. It's really refreshing to have such free workshops as it brings new opportunities for performance and to learn something new! Thoroughly enjoyed working with the circus professional and the artsNK dance team and hope to swinging from the aerial rig very soon :)!' 

Keep a watchful eye on our Facebook page for more information on upcoming opportunities with the Aerial equipment, including more possible workshops!

Also this past week, both our Youth Dance Companies, kNacKer'd and redXco were taking part in residencies Blueprint: Media and Boy Blue Entertainment respectively. 

kNacKer'd, working with Blueprint: Media, were creating a digital film piece based on Ghost Town. The results look pretty impressive!

Photo: HollyartsNK

redXco, working with Boy Blue Entertainment, were working on a piece based around the London Riots. Again the results look very impressive!

Photo: EmmaartsNK

We also have exciting news! Dance Factor is back! It kicks off in just under a month, more details shall follow shortly so once again, keep an eye on our Facebook page for that happening! You can also keep up to date by following us on Twitter @Dance_Factor and liking the Dance Factor Facebook page!