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

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.

End of year round up/coming up!

It’s the end of another busy year for the dance team! From Dance Factor 6 to True Motion, our Inspiring Young Talent showcase and Primary Dance Festivals, it has literally been jam packed! Not to mention our visit to Breakin’ Convention, U.Dance Nationals and Aerial training. This year has been a great year for Dance opportunities in Lincolnshire and 2013-2014 is set to be bigger and better!

We have had amazing workshops and residencies and our Youth Dance Companies kNacKer’d and redXco have gone from strength to strength. They have also been lucky enough to perform at some of the biggest events in the county , including the SO festival and Lincoln Dances. Also a special mention to aDance who performed at the Sew Into Fashion event!

Photo: MichaelaartsNK

We are constantly working hard to bring opportunities to the young people of Lincolnshire and that wouldn't be possible without your support at our shows and events! So thank you to everyone who has bought a ticket to one of our shows this year, supported our groups at events or supported the Dance Team in general.

Throughout the Summer break, the Dance team have still been busy with events happening round the county. As we head into September there shall also be many more chances to get involved!

Photo: MichaelaartsNK

On August 16th, we headed to Spalding for Music in the Marketplace where kNacKer'd had the chance to perform. After worrying the performance may involve rolling around in a few puddles, bright sunshine greeted the girls just in time and their piece 'Flaws' impressed the audience.

On Saturday 17th, kNacKer'd also performed at the NK Centre Family Fun Day, the girls also threw themselves into playing Rugby and the boys obliged by joining in a Rock n Roll workshop.

Photo: MichaelaartsNK

As we are now heading towards the end of the Summer break, and quickly towards September, our classes shall be resuming. We shall be holding auditions for both kNacKer'd and redXco (details to be posted on our Facebook page soon) and our new vertical dance and male breakin' group 'Jumpstart' classes begin!

Again all information shall be posted on our Facebook page very soon. Keep your eyes peeled!

You can also find out more about the auditions by clicking on the 'Events' tab on the blog.

Summer Primary Dance Festival!

On Wednesday 22^nd May, the “North Kesteven School and artsNK Primary Dance Festival” took place at the Terry O’Toole Theatre and was a huge success. Once again, the shows were a sell out, with parents, brothers, sisters and relatives being treated to a night of street and contemporary dance.

Photo: Jane Harrison

 

Photo: Jane Harrsion

Over the past 6 weeks, local primary schools had taken part in this project and worked with a dance artist from artsNK. They worked together, to create a dance piece based on the transition from a primary school to a secondary school. Also performing in the show were some groups from North Kesteven School.

The primary school children had a fantastic time watching the rest   of the groups in their technical rehearsals. For most of the  children, it was their first time performing on stage and you could tell they were extremely excited. The North Kesteven groups also enjoyed performing, and were a very high standard.

Thank you to all the groups who took part from Redwood Waddington, Witham St.Hughs and The Meadows Primaries as well as Maneuver (Boys dance group), Transcendance ( Yr 7-8 girls dance group) and the Yr13 BTEC Dancers from NK School.

Photo: Jane Harrison

U.Dance: True Motion 13

On Saturday 9^th March, our True Motion event was held at the LPAC in Lincoln. Eleven dance groups from around the area performed to a panel of judges, hoping to win a place in the MY Dance Festival.  

Throughout the day, rehearsals and workshops took place, giving the young people a chance to learn new skills, find out more about dance and interact with others. The commercial workshop, held by professional LA commercial dancer Gareth Woodward, and a workshop held by Chelsey Barnes from Lincolnshire One Venues, was met with a lot of enthusiasm from the participants.

Photo: Michaela Soltys

Photo: Michaela Soltys

In one of the commercial workshops.

Alongside the workshops, a number of dance professionals held a Q&A panel for the young people taking part. They answered questions about the dance industry and how they, themselves got to where they are now. This proved very insightful for the participants of True Motion and soon the panel were inundated with questions.

Photo: Michaela Soltys

With so many groups taking part, the audience were treated to a number of different performances ranging in genre and style. 

This meant the judges had a very tough decision picking the winner.

After a lengthy and thought out discussion, the judges picked NK School as the overall winners. Their war inspired, contemporary piece impressed the panel and they shall now go through to the MY (Midlands Youth) Dance Festival. This shall take place on 20^th April at Nottingham Playhouse. 

Winners NK School Photo: Michaela Soltys

Runners up kNacKer'd Photo: Michaela Soltys

Photo: Michaela Soltys

Alongside NK School, artsNK’s kNacKer’d have also been given the chance to perform in Nottingham. They too, impressed the judges with their rock inspired performance.

Although there was only one place available in the MY Dance Festival, all the groups should feel very proud of their achievements and performances.

 We here at artsNK Dance are planning more opportunities for young people to be involved, so keep a look out here on our blog, our Facebook page and Twitter.

You can also see more photos of the day by visiting our Facebook page! 

Dance Factor Semi Final tickets now on sale!

Tickets for the Dance Factor 6 Semi Final are now on sale! Over the past few weeks, groups across the NK and Lincoln area have been preparing and rehearsing for the event.

The event for NK will be taking place at the Terry O’ Toole Theatre in North Hykeham on Friday 30th November at 7pm.

Tickets are priced at £3 and can be collected in person, booked by visiting http://www.terryotooletheatre.org.uk/ and following the links or ringing the TOTT Box Office on 01522 883311.