On March 25th participants of the Moving Earth Leadership Scheme returned to the mac for their second day of training, which focussed on practical skills and communication methods.
Our creative group demonstrating their skills!
The day began with Chris Cuthbert from Aquinas Media presenting on the different technical requirements in dance productions. He explained how different lighting and sound could be used to create contrasting effects, with practical logistics such as space, electricity and cost all being addressed. This helped participants to understand the realities of delivering different productions and encouraged them to think creatively about ways they could use visual aids on a limited budget.
Chris Cuthbert en-lightening our group!
The group then presented their independent challenges that were set at the previous training day. The task had involved them consulting with their dance companies to identify a key problem they faced. They then researched the history of the problem and identified ways it could be solved or the effects reduced. This shared learning helped participants to understand the problems that other regional groups faced, with space, low participation and expenses being a common theme amongst most.
After a quick lunch the group then had a session with Anusha Subramanyam from Beeja Dance Company, who has had 23 years experience in teaching South Asian Dance to people of all ages and abilities. She addressed the issue of authenticity in dance, challenging participants to express their beliefs about what dance forms they felt comfortable teaching, and whether it was ok to teach a form you are not trained in to school children. She then had participants undertake several exercises that were good icebreakers to use, and encouraged each person to lead on a sequence of movement. The session ended with a fun teamwork game…take a look at the pictures below!
Team building with Anusha
The day ended with Dharmesh Rajput from the BBC presenting on communicating with the media, and how to give good interviews for television and radio. He taught them how to write a press release by looking for the unique story angle that would connect with different press organisations. Participants then had a go at writing their own, making them think about why they were taking part in Moving Earth and why it might be an interesting story to regional newspapers.
Hold the press for Dharmesh!
Finally they learnt about good interview technique, such as what to wear and the importance of focussing on a few key points. Each person was then filmed being interviewed, with a difficult question being thrown in to really put them under pressure. Keep an eye on the blog for the results of these interviews!
On January 29th our participants met for the first time, as they underwent their first training day held at the mac. The day began with an uplifting speech by Ken Bartlett – the Creative Director of the Foundation of Community Dance, who spoke about understanding what dance leadership is, following National Occupational Standards, and what it means to be an entrepreneur in a community dance group.
The participants were then split into groups where they had to solve a realistic scenario based on planning a dance event. All participants rose to the challenge, with some very creative ideas which tapped into crucial elements of project management.
After a quick lunch the participants then looked at how to form an identity and presence as community dance groups, looking at what unique selling points are, how to pitch your company, and how to gain hits on websites. Led by Abid Hussain from Arts Council England, this topic developed their understanding of missions and visions, and allowed them to dip into how you communicate this identity with other staff and members of the public.
Finally the group was introduced to the concept of planning and project management in dance. Facilitated by Anita Srivastava from New Dimensions Arts Management, the session kicked off with a lively task involving paper, coke and lots of masking tape….Their mission, to build the tallest free standing structure possible that can support a can of coke!
After Group A were declared the winner, Anita then asked the groups to analyse how they went about the task, and to what degree they planned it. After a few truthful answers, it soon became clear that when time restraints, ‘competition’ and unclear goals came into the equation, the planning and preparation had become less of a priority….This led nicely onto Anita’s presentation about why projects fail, the different elements of project management, and evaluating risk.
And thus ended the first training day for the Moving Earth Leadership Scheme. Watch this space for further updates about the scheme and its participants!
As part of the Moving Earth Initiative, sampad is running a leadership scheme for participating dance classes throughout the region. Those nominated by their dance classes will attend three workshops between January and July 2012, which are aimed at developing their skills and knowledge surrounding dance leadership. Whilst nurturing the participants’ existing qualities, the programme will develop and stimulate their vision, introducing them to what being a leader is, and what the role requires, so that they can continue their development once the scheme has ended.
The training days will give participants the chance to network with, and learn, from some of the leading professionals within the dance sector. Through a series of motivating talks, experienced guest speakers will share their knowledge and experience to help participants understand the challenges and tasks that these individuals face every day. The programme will explore many different aspects of leadership, looking at the different roles within creative production, and allowing participants to broaden their understanding of what they might have to deal with as dance leaders.
Collaboration between participants will also encourage a sharing of experiences, which will help develop their teamwork skills and understanding across the various dance genres. Independent tasks set for between sessions will then help consolidate key learning, and allow them to refine the theory and skills they gained from the training day.
The programme will therefore cover a wide range of topics, such as Creating inspiration and motivation, Understanding design and technical elements in productions, Project Management, Promoting and pitching your organisation, Effective marketing, Handling publicity & the press, Good communication and Health & Safety.
With the participants all signed up, sampad can now oversee this exciting journey of development!
Moving Earth open workshops are coming to Birmingham on Saturday 26 November.
Come along to mac at Cannon Hill Park, to try out ancient Indian martial arts dance in a free workshop lead by Saju Hari, a professional dancer from Kerala, South India.
Saju Hari
There are two sessions: 1.30pm – 3pm or 3.30-5pm. There is no need to book, just turn up and have a go! – However please be aware, if you turn up late and the session is full we won’t be able to let you in, so please arrive early to avoid disappointment.
Suitable for ages 8+ and levels of experience welcome. Just make sure you wear comfortable clothing, such as tracksuit bottoms or leggings, and trainers.
Check out the videos in posts below to see the sort of moves we’ll be doing.
For more information visit the sampad website
Towards the end of Santosh and Praveen’s first vist, they headed to The Hive in Shrewsbury, for another masterclass to pass on their moves to some more dance teachers.
This is just a taster of their two-week visit from India. There were more workshops in Coventry, with Hina and Co’s Bollywood dance groups, in Birmingham with Chitraleka Dance Company’s Bharanatyam students, and three Bhangra and Giddha groups, and in Burton-on-Trent with a break dancing boys group, getting people of all ages trying out these new martial arts dance moves.
Now our experts have got the ball rolling, our team of local choreographers will be honing their newly aquired Chhau skills over the next couple of months, ready to open the doors to you in public workshops across the region this autumn.
So watch this space to find out how, when and where you can take part!
On 19 July the Moving Earth team headed to West Bromwich for another Chhau masterclass with dance teachers and professional dancers at The Public
We kicked off the second week of Santosh and Praveen’s tour with a visit to Rock in very rural Worcestershire to give their Over 55s Chance to Dance group a taste of something different.
It’s probably safe to say it was the first time they, or indeed anyone, had the chance try Indian martial arts in the local village hall.
15 July was another busy day for Moving Earth with a Chhau masterclass at the Brew Arts Centre in Burton on Trent with six freelance dance teachers…….
…followed by another with contemporary dance artists at Netherton Arts Centre in Dudley
The Moving Earth team had a packed schedule on 14 July.
After a meeting in Worcester it was on to Solihull for a Chhau workshop with Asian Flava, a contemporary Asian dance fusion group.
And then it was straight back to Birmingham, to teach our Indian martial arts moves to ACE Youth, a contemporary African and Caribbean dance group for 11-21 year olds.
Santosh and Praveen kicked off the Moving Earth project, and their two-week visit to the UK, with a workshop at sampad’s home, mac birmingham on 12 July.
Birmingham Youth Dance and Bollywood Dreams Dance Academy were the first to try out the Chhau moves
alison
lorna
katywade
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