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.

kNacKer'd Residency

Before breaking up for Christmas, artsNK’s kNacKer’d undertook an intensive day residency with Chantry Dance Company. Chantry is a contemporary ballet dance company based in Grantham and London, led by co-artistic directors Paul and Rae Piper.

The dancers were very lucky to have the opportunity to work with both Paul and Rae for a full day of contemporary ballet. The dancers started with a warm-up using the ballet barres, which the majority of the group found to be a new and exciting experience. The group also worked on corner work, repertoire from one of Chantry’s pieces and also had a chance to work with different choreographic devices.

kNacKer’d found it a big challenge, as for most of them it was a style completely out of their comfort zone. Holly Arnold (Artistic Director of kNacKer’d Youth Dance Company) told us that “It was very nice to see the dancers trying something new. It is also great to see them challenge themselves to go out of their comfort zones.

It will definitely help with their technique development within class and for performances as well”.   It was a long day but the dancers gained so much from it, and really appreciated the help and support from both Paul and Rae. Holly and kNacKer’d would like to thank Paul and Rae for coming to work with them and hope that they get to work with Chantry again in the future.

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!

Welcome back.

Welcome back to a new year with artsNK Dance! Term one kicked off this week, with all our classes starting again. This included our new vertical dance class and new Youth Dance Company, JumpStart!    

Once again, you can expect this year to be a busy one, especially for the dance team, with lots of new and exciting things happening. We shall have all our usual events to look forward to, such as our Primary Dance Festival and U.Dance platform, True Motion.

The dance team shall also be involved in a few different events this year, including the upcoming Zygote Festival. If you're sat there wondering ‘what on earth is Zygote?!’ then you need to check out the Facebook page and blog. The dance team shall be getting stuck into the action from October, where we shall be getting involved in aerial dance for the festival. If you haven't yet seen our aerial adventures with circusMASH UK, click the link here!

Alongside Zygote, there are plenty of other chances to get involved with artsNK Dance. At the end of September/beginning of October, we shall be auditioning for our Youth Dance Companies, kNacKer’d, redXco and JumpStart. Information about times and dates can be found on our Facebook page and in our latest newsletter.

With the beginning of the new academic year, comes the return of U.Dance. Applications are now open to be part of the national dance event. Lincolnshire’s contribution, True Motion, shall take place on 8th March 2014. 2014 also sees the return of Big Dance, the UK’s biggest celebration of dance, which many of you may have been involved in before. Information about Big Dance shall be released in January 2014, so keep your eyes peeled!

With all the new and exciting projects happening for the dance team, there shall be plenty of opportunities to get involved. To find out more about what's going on in the next couple of months, read our latest newsletter here. It has information about upcoming dance opportunities, events, all our dance class leaflets, information about our new schools programme InspireDance and much more! If you haven't yet subscribed to our mailing list, click the ‘join our mailing list’ tab above, where you can sign up.

Once again we look forward to seeing you all getting involved and making this another great year for artsNK Dance!

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.

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!