Dance Factor 2014!

Dance Factor is over for another year, but what a blast it was! On Saturday 8th February, over 100 young people performed at the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre to a sell out crowd.

If you're not familiar with the format of Dance Factor, here is a breakdown of the project.

Dance Factor is a free 10 week street dance project for 11-18yr olds, taking place in venues across NK and the City of Lincoln. It’s designed to teach dance skills, but to also bring people together from different areas and encourage them to work together. Starting several years ago, the project has grown bigger and better and shall only continue to do so.

This year, the groups were treated to a performance from the special guests FFI(Fully Functioning Individuals) from Impact Dance, they also took workshops throughout the day.

Photo: Electric Egg

The winners were Apocalyptic from North Hykeham Youth Centre, they shall now go on to compete in the county U.Dance platform, True Motion. This takes place on Saturday 8th March, again at the LPAC.

Photo: Electric Egg

If you are interested in continuing to dance, check out our Facebook page for our full list of classes, times and costs!

Dance Factor!

With only 3 weeks to go until the final, the pressure is hotting up! Groups from around NK and Lincoln, have been working tirelessly for the past 7 weeks to create a piece which they shall perform in the Dance Factor final taking place on 8th February.

Groups taking part include....

*Apocalyptic from North Hykeham Youth Centre 

*Clique from Birchwood

*Eclipse from Billinghay

*L.E.D from Sleaford

*Respect Your Elders from Bracebridge

*Rewind from Priory Witham

*Rhythm Beats from Branston

*Rhythmix from Ermine

*Rock Revolution from St Giles

*Xscape from North Kesteven Centre

With it being such a big competition, we needed some top judges. So introducing this years Dance Factor judging panel.

*Gareth Woodward from Nottingham

*Anna Olejnicki from Hype Dance Company,

*Caroline Hoyle from last year's for Dance Factor

*Gareth Chown from Addict Dance Studios!

So we have the groups and judges but what about some special guests? Introducing from Impact Dance we have Fully Functioning Individuals! Fully Functioning Individuals (FFI) is Impact Dance's flagship company. It is a semi-professional dance group made up of young people aged 14-20+. The primary focus is to provide young people with all the tools they require to reach their full potential in life, whilst giving them the opportunity to hone their dance technique and establish outstanding performance skills. The company creates narrative/hip-hop theatre style pieces which are performed throughout London and the UK.

Presenting the show shall be Hakeem Onibudo, who formed Impact Dance. Hakeem is a performer, choreographer/director, mentor, British Council ambassador and professional host who began teaching dance in 1995, forming the company Impact Dance. His vocation has enabled him to work with young people, amateurs, semi-professionals and professionals in projects varying from school workshops, TV performances, film premieres and theatre productions, from London to many global communities.

Among his portfolio of work he counts a number of prestigious organisations he has worked alongside such as the Sony Pictures Entertainment, Warner Bothers, Columbia Pictures, BBC, Nickelodeon, CH4, Endemol, ITV, The Cosmopolitan Show, The Duke of Edinburgh Awards, The Royal Ballet School, The Royal Opera House, Sadler’s Wells, British Council, and Peacock Theatre to name but a few. Hakeem is the artistic director and host of LIVE VIBE, a performance platform created 10 years ago which has been a resident production at Sadler’s Wells, Peacock Theatre and Rich Mix. The concept was taken to Hong Kong in December 2010 and 2013 and created and produced in partnership with the British Council in Zimbabwe February 2012.

Hakeem regularly hosts Red Carpet Movie Premieres and his credits include: Iron Man 3, The Hobbit, Men in Black 3, Rock of Ages, Fast and Furious 6, The Amazing Spider Man, The Dark Knight Rises, Star Trek, Teen Beach Movie, Man of Steel and The Wolverine.

So with the final approaching, there is a lot to get excited about! Tickets are now on sale from your tutors so don't miss out! Tickets cost £3.

Coming up!

Even though it's only the start of 2014, we have lots of exciting things fast approaching!


On the 31st of January, we shall be holding our annual and newly named artsNK Youth Dance Programme Showcase. Taking place at the Terry O' Toole Theatre, artsNK's Youth Groups shall take to the stage to perform pieces which they have been working on. This shall include some very exciting new work from our dance companies redXco, kNacKer'd and all new male company, JumpStart. With performers ranging from 4-18 years old, there shall be a range of styles on show so there is something for everyone! Tickets are selling out extremely fast so book yours now by calling the Terry O Toole Theatre on 01522 883311. Tickets cost £3 and £2 for Children (Under 16s).



Going into February, the Dance Factor final shall be taking place at the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre on 8th. Ten crews from across NK and Lincoln shall come together, battling it out, one of them shall be crowned best dance crew of 2014. With only 4 weeks left working on pieces, the pressure is hotting up!


We shall then be holding our annual Spring Primary Dance Showcase. With two shows in one night, it's set to be hectic but fun! Local primary schools are currently working on creating dance pieces for the showcase. Based on the transition from Primary to Secondary School, the showcase is a celebration and a chance for the children to perform in front of a big audience!

Whilst all that is happening, we are also planning more for the coming months including aerial workshops and other exciting things! It's a busy time for the dance team! To keep up to date with everything that is going on, check out our Facebook page by clicking here and follow us on Twitter at @artsNKDance.

If you also want to see what other team members are up to, we each have our own Twitters @HollyartsNK, @EmmaartsNK, @MichaelaartsNK, @AliceartsNK and welcoming the newest member of our team James, @JamesartsNK.

If you want to find out a bit more about James, click on the 'About Us' tab above.

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!