Written evidence submitted by Dance Digital
(arts 156)
ABOUT US:
The future is digital and DanceDigital works
to develop technological literacy of dance professionals, artists,
educators, students, pupils and community members. With digital
culture as an intrinsic part of the everyday, digital literacy
is essential to full civic participation and to the development
of new services and businesses. We develop technological expertise
that advances dance as an art form and use the art form of dance
to develop technological literacy applicable across a broad range
of learning and professional contexts. Our work has inter-disciplinary
impact and aims to catalyze community cohesion, creativity and
development. Our work reaches artists, scientists, computer programmers,
software developers, students, teachers and community groups.
DanceDigital is passionate about Dance and Technology.
It has been exploring this area for a number of years and has
links with major exponents of this genre. For us, Dance and Technology
is the use of technological means to express an artistic vision,
to communicate new ideas to a wider audience and to share and
disseminate activity. This may be through performance (traditional
or non-traditional spaces), web-based activity, discussion, ongoing
support and advocacy. We will be building on existing and developing
new links to further explore this exciting and revealing area
of work, one in which new ideas, pathways and new initiatives
can be formed. DanceDigital is working closely with our funders
to best disseminate Dance and Technology practice and with venues
throughout the Eastern region, nationally and internationally.
We work as a company for innovation in the creation of new choreographies,
facilitating artists in their exploration, developing audiences,
building new partnerships and pushing forward the Dance and Technology
sector through risk-taking, adventurous and creative practice.
We work internationally to drive forward the sector, with a particular
focus on developing artists in the Eastern Region and England.
This involves artist exchanges, performances and symposia.
Through our ambitious programmes of work, DanceDigital
aims to be at the leading edge of Dance and Technology developments,
serve our communities and enhance literacy in technology, movement
and the arts.
DanceDigital has a team of three full-time staff
and four part-time staff.
FUNDING CONTEXT:
— Dance Digital is the trading name of
Essex Regional Dance Council, a regularly funded Arts Council
Organisation (RFO), with service level agreements with Essex County
Council, Chelmsford Borough Council and a tender with Hertfordshire
County Council for provision of dance development in community
and schools.
— Core funding comprises nearly 60% of
total income. Our core funding consists of 50% Arts Council, 25%
from Essex County Council, 12.5% from Chelmsford Borough Council,
12.5% from Hertfordshire County Council (tender).
— Additional income is project designated
and comprises approximately 30% of the organisation's income.
Current project funders are Arts Council England, Essex County
Council, Chelmsford Borough Council, Youth Dance England East,
Southend on Sea Borough Council, Technology Strategy Board.
— Sponsorship income is given to us from
M and G and comprises less than 1% of our total income. At present
we do not have sufficiently developed relationships with private
donors to sustain the organization and these relationships will
take time to build.
— Our earned income from classes, workshops,
studio hires, equipment hires and investment income makes up 10%
of our overall income.
HOW FUNDING
SUPPORTS THE
WORK THAT
WE DO:
— The funding structure enables us to commission
and work with professional artists and support the development
of digital dance practice nationally (Arts Council England Funding).
— We work with professionals to engage
the public through performances, community and education programmes
and specific programmes for disadvantaged communities, in the
counties of Essex and Hertfordshire. Our education and community
work is made possible through local authority funding but the
high quality of artistic work that informs the work is made possible
through the funding of Arts Council England and Essex County Council.
— Our funding model integrates local, regional
and national needs for development of dance as an art-form, with
a particular focus on new technology and innovation. This integration
facilitates dialogue between local, regional and national communities
at all levels of expertise and engagement.
— Our funding currently supports a studio
that serves as incubator and development space for professional
artists whose work benefits the region. We have supported the
creation of new work that has gone on to tour nationally and internationally.
The studio also houses our youth and community programmes that
engage the broadest range of people in the community.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
DanceDigital's Essex office is based in the
centre of Chelmsford, a couple of minutes walk from the town centre
and the railway station. It has recently moved into this new office,
which is fit for purpose and fully accessible.
Dance Digital in Hertfordshire is currently
based in the same office in Chelmsford, to which it has recently
moved.
DanceDigital is committed to developing the
area of Dance and Technology. We work with artists who are interested
and/or specialised in the dance and new technology/new media field
to enable further experimentation, exploration and risk-taking.
We provide support, bursaries and commissions to artists. Projects
are artist-driven with the overarching brief of exploration and
experimentation, with a regional, national and international outlook.
We attempt to work with innovative and inspiring
artists. We define innovation as work, which confounds expectation,
changes the way people think or behave and opens up new possibilities
and opportunity. Innovative ideas and products have the potential
to change our entire landscape and provide benchmarks to measure
other work against.
Our work is divided into two areas with significant
crossover between the two. The Artistic strand deals with professional
artists and companies, whilst the Learning strand deals with schools,
young people and community work.
DanceDigital work with people from across all
sectors, ages, abilities and skill-level; young people, communities,
in education and with professional artists and companies. The
people of Essex and Hertfordshire benefit from having a hub for
high quality dance work in their county, bringing high quality
professional artists and companies to Essex, Hertfordshire and
the Eastern region, excellent teachers to schools and for communities
and providing a unique opportunity to share work, information,
experiences and to perform.
TESTIMONIALS
RE: SPRINGBLAST:
1. Jean says:
18/03/2010 at 2:04 pm
Brilliant show with a high energy buzz throughout.
Great support from all groups, and I can only agree with Lucy's
comments above. Abundant talent and professionalism from performers,
teachers and Dance Digital Staff. Lets have more soon. Thank you
for having us. Dance 21.
2. Stephen says:
18/03/2010 at 8:41 pm
Came to Spring Blast. Amazing acts, really high
quality. Great to see so many young lads performing to such a
high standard. A greater variety of styles would be good.
Really enjoyed the performance—what a
lot of skilled dancers/teachers you have!
3. Shamiso says:
19/03/2010 at 2:13 pm
I performed as part of FOCUS at SpringBlast,
it was great to see what other young people in the county have
created, and i was surprised and encouraged by the diversity.
I think there should be more opportunities for dancers in Essex
to interact creatively like this.
RE: BIG
DANCE, HERTS
Sarah Talks says:
12/07/2010 at 10:21 pm
Big Dance Hertfordshire in Watford was really
great. My son was part of two groups, each requiring different
dance styles. The one off piece created for the Big Dance took
him out of his comfort zone, but with the excellent teaching from
Curtis James and support from DanceDigital the whole group performed
really well. The project brought together boys from very different
backgrounds and was a real opportunity.
The progression from tiny tots, young children,
teenagers right up to the explosive ZooNation performance was
very exciting to see.
RE: THE
RAIN PARADE,
COMMISSION BY
HERTS ASSOCIATE
ARTISTS LOSTDOG
Nigel Brook, Chairman of Hertfordshire County
Council says:
05/05/09
It is not often one has the opportunity of attending
a world premier but you gave it to us last week, for which many
thanks. We found the whole concept very interesting and the dancing
was truly outstanding.
We wish you and your colleagues every success
with the venture and your future activities.
RE: FOCUS YDC PERFORMING
IN A
LOCAL CHARITY
EVENT
Councillor Nicolette Chambers, Mayor 2007-08 says:
20/05/08
Thank you so much for your performance at the
community showcase last Sunday. The show was just wonderful and
the hard work and dedication from the team and volunteers paid
off. The money raised from this event will go a long way to the
charities, CHESS and YMCA and we are all truly grateful.
RE: CULTURAL
DANCE DAY
IN A
PRIMARY SCHOOL
Zhora Dadd, school teacher says:
05/09/09
The Chinese dancing was fantastic and a breath
of fresh air. Faye was lovely and everybody enjoyed it. In fact
even the parents' haven't stopped talking about it as the children
were so excited that they did nothing else but talk about it at
home.
RE: INTEGRATED
DANCE PROJECT
BRING TOGETHER
SECONDARY AND
SPECIAL EDUCATION
SCHOOLS
Teacher from a Special Education School says:
February 09
We had a wonderful day thanks to Louise, Frank
and Sue, and as a school learnt about how relevant dance was for
our curriculum as well as the opportunities presented to do something
physical and creative with children from a mainstream primary.
The day workshop provided a great way to break down barriers and
build relationships between two groups of children. A great day
and very special. Thanks again.
Teacher from a Secondary School says:
February 09
This was a fantastic opportunity to work with
special children. Excellent effort was made, our students became
progressively more confident and creative. What a wonderful experience.
Thank you.
September 2010
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