Anjali Dance Company

CO-HOST ANNOUNCEMENT 📣

With 3 weeks to go until our Culture for Change event, we are excited to announce Kashmire Hawker as our co-host.

Kashmire Hawker is a 27-year-old Equality Activist from Wolverhampton, whose work and passion is to ensure that society is more equal, particularly for disabled people.

His day job is in Regional Government, is engaged on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion work with organisations including Changing Our Lives and Wolverhampton Wanderers and after working at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Cultural Festival, has built a lifelong appreciation for Arts, Culture and Heritage.

“It’s a huge delight to be co-hosting Culture for Change by Anjali, which will give a brilliant opportunity to not just showcase the inclusive work already going on across the Arts, Culture and Heritage sectors, but allow for honest and open conversations about what the future holds and how creatives can help shape a more inclusive and accessible future. I am much look forward to it and encourage you to come along!”

You can find out more about Kashmire by visiting www.kashmirehawker.com

Kashmire DS Hawker

Find out more and sign up to Culture for Change here: https://anjali.co.uk/consultancy-cpd/

Anjali's co-chairs Rachel Louise Sharpe and Kirsty Hillyer are Cause4's Trustees of the Month!

"I enjoy the governance process, working through challenges and opportunities with our Director Alex and my Co-chair Kirsty. I like the agility and responsiveness of the company and have LOVED watching it grow and become stronger.”
💬 Rachel

Read the full blog here: https://shorturl.at/fxEj2

📣 OXFORDSHIRE CLASSES

We are looking for learning disabled individuals who love dancing and want to develop their skills to join our Banbury classes!

Location: The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury
Days: Mondays
Times: 5.30 - 7pm

Led by industry professional Elly Crowther and supported by Sam Lane.

There's still time to sign up: www.ticketsource.co.uk/anjalidance/t-eamejer

We hope to see you there👋

❤️ 17% RAISED ❤️

A huge thank you to all our amazing donors so far. Thanks to your generosity, we've raised 17% of our £3,000 goal!

For just £30, you can help support our mission and ensure we continue making a difference for the next 30 years.

Donate today and be a part of something meaningful:
https://wonderful.org/fundraisers/nKOK5



See our latest Pearl Wall of Donors here: https://anjali.co.uk/support/

It’s DAY ONE of a really exciting project, with Nick and Gary (and Rachel) in the studio ready to create a brand new solo!

Nick has spent the last 9 months developing his choreographic practice through an DYCP. He will now be bringing his choreographic ideas to life and we will be documenting this process to share with you all.

We are delighted to be working with Fabric to increase the number of disabled choreographers and leaders in the dance sector.

“I’m so excited” 💬 Nick

Keep Moving is produced by FABRIC, generously supported by United by 2022, as part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund through West Midlands Combined Authority.

Rachel Liggitt
Gary Clarke Company

✨ NEW TEAM MEMBERS ✨

Meet Lauren and Anyonita who are joining the team for Anjali's project this autumn.

Lauren is our Assistant Producer. She is a trained specialist SEND primary teacher and after becoming disabled, followed her passion for movement to work with SideKick Dance, People Dancing and ID Dance Co.

Anyonita is our Marketing Specialist. She is a self-certified marketing fanatic who specialises in work that does good and enhances communities.

We're so excited to be working with Anyonita and Lauren over the next few months!

With support from The Inclusive Communities Fund.

💻 NEW BLOG POST 💻

Our producer, Natalie, has wrote a blog post about our experience with com.dance e.V. in Freiburg during June 2024.

"I really enjoyed the cultural learning, their way of life and language, I’m inspired to learn more” (Daisy)

“It’s reminded us of the power of dance, to connect, even in a short amount of time” (Natalie)

“I felt close to my emotion when dancing, it made me feel happy” (Jasmina)

“I could feel and experience the connections between our work” (Katja)

You can read all about what we got up to here:
www.cultural-bridge.info/blog/empowering-mixed-abled-inclusive-dance-across-international-communities/

Photo by Jennifer Rohrbacher

✨ NEW TEAM MEMBER ✨

From September, we are delighted to be welcoming Lewis Gardner to the Anjali team as Company Coordinator.

Lewis will be working two days a week with the company and be responsible for efficient management of our day to day activities.

You can contact Lewis by emailing [email protected].

Welcome to the Anjali world, Lewis!

☀️ YOUNG ANJALI IN BURTON ☀️

We had a great time last week delivering our community Dance, Develop, Perform project. Together we explored themes of Surrealism Art, took part in creative and technique classes and spent time building friendships.

Our summer activity is in full swing, and we’re loving moving with our brilliant participants!

Thank you to That! Dance and Brewhouse Arts Centre and a special thank you Romy Whai for these images 💛

With thanks to funding from Sports England.

DON'T MISS OUT! ⏰

11 days left until our summer project comes to the Black Country.

Join us to:

👉 develop your dance skills
👉 build your confidence and fitness
👉improve your creativity
👉and gain valuable social skills

You will work towards a short performance, sharing your choreography with family and friends at the end of the project.

Bursaries available.

Book your space by emailing [email protected].

R&D PROJECT = DONE✨

This week was the conclusion of our 6 month R&D project, with our main company dancers working with choreographers Chisato Minamimura, Rebecca Namgauds and Joe Garbett.

As part of this process, we've been joined by live musicians, Anjali dance artists, support workers, BSL interpreters and several friends who have come to see what we're up to!

Thank you to Optic Laboratory who have beautifully captured the process and will be producing a short film to share (coming soon 👀).

And finally, we LOVE this creative response Jem Clancy has created after joining us this week in the studio!

We've had the best time exploring, playing and experimenting. Thank you to all involved. A new work coming your way soon! 🤩

Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

📣 CPD SUMMER SESSION 📣

We’re excited to be hosting Lauren Russell who will be leading an insightful inclusive CPD session this August.

📆 Thursday 1 August 2024
🕢 6 - 7.30pm
📍 Brewhouse Arts Centre
💰 £5 contribution
💻 Book via www.ticketsource.co.uk/anjalidance

In this session, Lauren will lead a warmup and technique phrase to get everyone moving. There will then be time to discuss what inclusive dance looks like to each of us and how we can open our individual practices to be more accessible.

Suitable for anyone with a dance or movement practice who believes access is important.

Lauren’s bio:

Lauren is a Midlands-based, freelance dance artist. She has a background in primary education, specialising in SEND, and has more recently moved into freelance dance work full-time. Since becoming disabled, Lauren has worked with Sidekick and ID Dance Co (both Leicester based) as well as undertaking paid work with Propel, StepChange Studios and Stopgap. Lauren is currently a Resident Artist with People Dancing and is keen to connect with others and share her passion for inclusion.

☀️ ANJALI SUMMER ACTIVITY ☀️

We’re excited to be delivering our 3 day performance projects this August across the Midlands.

For young people age 16-30yrs with learning disabilities and/or neurodiversity.

Take part in dance classes, develop your fitness, increase your confidence and perform in a studio sharing to family, friends and your community.

👉 BURTON
31 July - 2 Aug
Brewhouse Arts Centre

👉 BLACK COUNTRY
13 - 15 Aug
Walsall Arena (Black Country Dance Hub)

👉 BANBURY
29 - 31 Aug
The Mill Arts Centre
* 3 places left *

Limited places available!

Book: www.ticketsource.co.uk/anjalidance

Bursaries available.

With thanks to funding and support from Sports England, ItsThat!Dance, Brewhouse Arts Centre and The Mill.

Anjali Dance Company event tickets from TicketSource Buy tickets for Anjali Dance Company's upcoming events. Click the link for further information and to secure your tickets now!

FREELANCE JOB OPPORTUNITIES 💻

We’re looking for two dynamic and proactive individuals to fulfil roles as part of our project.

This will involve delivering a large scale event and a series of seminars in the West Midlands.

👉 ASSISTANT PRODUCER
Time: 10 days between Aug-Nov 2024
Fee: £1,500 + travel
Location: mostly remote, with occasional travel within West Midlands

👉 MARKETING SPECIALIST
Time: 15 days between Aug-Dec 2024
Fee: £3,000 + travel
Location: mostly remote, with occasional travel within West Midlands

DEADLINE: 1 AUGUST @ 11.59PM

Please visit the Anjali website for the full information pack and easy read documents: https://anjali.co.uk/work-with-us/

With thanks to funding from the Heart of England Inclusive Communities Fund.

We were honoured to have Steph Sandy, a well-known disabled dance artist and consultant, join us in the studio today ✨

Steph observed the main company dancers in an R&D session with choreographer Chisato Minamimura, and "absolutely loved it!"

She will be sharing her insights with us as we continue to refine our creative process and to reflect on how we best uplift our Anjali dancers' unique talents.

Thank you Steph for joining us and we can't wait to welcome you back to the studio soon!

We had the best time last week at the Leadership in Action Symposium🌟

The event was led by Corali Dance Company and People Dancing, with supporting partners Anjali, Stopgap Dance Company, TIN Arts and DanceSyndrome.

We're so proud of Nick, who gave a presentation on his leadership journey, his current DYCP award and how he hopes there can be more learning disabled leaders in the sector.

It was such a joy to connect with other leaders from across the UK and to listen to all the inspiring experiences in the room.

We’re very excited about what is to come, this is just the start!

📷 Jon Archdeacon

🇩🇪 com.dance e.V. & Anjali Dance Company 🇬🇧

We’re leaving with full hearts and inspired minds after a brilliant exchange with com.dance e.V.

We’ve been non-stop with:

- technical and creative training sessions
- creating our own movement greeting
- Holly and Lauren leading movement
- seeing Alexander Vantournhout as part of at theater freiburg
- visiting tanznetz & ewerkfreiburg
- open training with local professionals
- a live music contact improv jam
- sharing, connecting, talking, reflecting

Thank you to the wonderful Katja, Belinda and Mathilda for hosting an inspirational experience for us all ❤️

📣 21 DAYS TO GO 📣

Leadership in Action: Amplifying & Advocating Learning Disabled Dance Leaders

Wednesday 26 June
10.30am - 4pm
Attenborough Arts Centre, Leicester

Join us and our fellow partners for an exciting event to explore what dance leadership is and to share experiences together.

Limited spaces available.
Book your place by clicking this link: https://rb.gy/b0w2j8

The Leadership in Action symposium is led by People Dancing and Corali Dance Company and with supporting partners Anjali Dance Company, , Stopgap Dance Company & TIN Arts.

WE'RE HIRING! 📣

Our wonderful company administrator, Naomi, is returning to university full-time from September so we are on the look out for a new team member!

We're seeking a proactive and team-orientated individual, with excellent communication and organisational skills.

Details:

Freelance
£150/day
2 days per week
12 month contract (Sept 24 - Sept 25)

Deadline: Sunday 7 July 2024

Find out more: https://anjali.co.uk/work-with-us/

To have an informal chat about this opportunity, please email Alex ([email protected]).

📷 Optic Laboratory

🌸 MAY PRO CLASSES 🌸

We’re opening up our morning classes for the professional community with two more exciting opportunities to join us in the studio:

Mon 20 May / 11.15-12.45pm
Ashley Jordan

Play, flow and floor work.
A class peppered with dance vocab centred around how to get in and out of the floor. Develop your movement vocab and get creative with playful ways to make new movement concepts a reality.

Tues 21 May / 9.15-10.45am
Holly Jones

Expect a gentle, juicy build up of movement, from improv to soft conditioning. We will find fluid pathways across the floor until we reach an upbeat phrase, usually to some folky tunes! Holly aims to create a friendly creative space where individuality is always encouraged!

Book via link in bio: www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/derby/deda/professional-class/e-eqkvjq

Classes held in Studio 3 at Deda.

If you can’t make it this time, we have 4 more pro classes remaining in June and July with Becky Namgauds, Siobhan Hayes and Daisy Garrett (Anjali dancer) 🤩

We hope to see you there! 👋

Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

✈️ 34 DAYS UNTIL GERMANY

As part of our international project, we are excited for Anjali and our dancers Daisy, Lauren and Holly to be collaborating with Com.dance e.V.

We’ll be visiting Freiburg in June to exchange practice, watch international work and connect before they join us in the UK in autumn.

Stay tuned for exciting updates and details of how you can get involved with our new international network for inclusive artists 👀

🇬🇧🇩🇪

The cultural bridge programme celebrates bilateral partnerships between the UK and Germany, with support from Arts Council England, British Council, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Goethe-Institut London, , & Fonds Soziokultur e.V.

📸 Optic Laboratory

🤩 THE NEWS IS OUT: WE HAVE A NEW COMPANY CHAMPION 🤩

We're delighted to announce Gary Clarke as our company champion to help drive forwards Anjali's artistic vision.

The role will initially focus on:

👉 developing the Anjali main company dancers' employability and skillsets
👉 supporting Anjali's R&D choreographers as we look to create a new major touring production
👉 facilitating wider artistic possibilities within the industry

“I am thrilled to be collaborating with Anjali Dance Company as their new Company Champion as they step into an exciting phase of development. Inclusivity, visibility and diversity is an integral part of our sector growth and I believe Anjali is at the forefront of breaking down barriers for dance and disability."
💬 Gary Clarke

Gary previously worked with Anjali, choreographing Beethoven, the company’s last tour, which formed part of the GENIUS double bill. The work toured nationally and internationally to 18 venues to great critical acclaim.

Keep an eye out for updates 👀

To read more: https://anjali.co.uk/news/

THANK YOU Joe Garbett Dance for a fun & funky pro class 🧡

We loved meeting other local dancers and moving together. We’ll be back again at Deda with class tomorrow (9.15-10.45am)!

👉 Book via link: www.ticketsource.co.uk/anjalidance/t-vvkgelq



Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.