Connect Main Stage Programme 2011

‘London’s heartbeat has changed. Within that heartbeat lies a feeling, a collective consciousness,

the uniting hum of disparate voices waiting to be heard’ Nitin Sawhney

• 200 participants

• 135 performers

• Ages 9 to 90

• Six Sadler’s Wells Associate Companies

• Writer, Animator, Costume designer, Lighting designer.

• Five month development time

• Professional production values

Connect Objectives

• Working with Older People

• Engaging the community

• Performing in the community

• Challenging assumptions of who can dance and where dance can happen

• Youth Dance Initiatives & Activities

• Developing opportunities in formal education, from Primary through to Higher Education

Connect Objectives

• Access – leading the way for access and accessibility in theatre and dance

• Continuing professional development

• Interpretation and enrichment

• Measuring and evaluating for best practice

• Scope and reach

Sum of Parts: Artists & Participants

Strand of work Participants Associates

Over 60s Co. of Elders Hofesh Shechter Schools Hugh Myddelton Primary Youth London Youth Wayne McGregor l Random Dance Youth Dance England

Estates Project ZooNation

Integrated Corali Community Sadler’s Wells Local New Adventures Big Dance Emerging Artists Laban Russell Maliphant Company The Place (CATS) Central School of Ballet Jasmin Vardimon Company London Contemp. DS London Studio Centre

Participant feedback

“It would be great if everyone at least once in their lives were exposed to an

experience like Sum of Parts”.

I don’t often get the opportunity to be creative as an older person, but this project opened up realms of possibilities, not just for aspiring dancers, but for non-professionals discovering new skills and talents. For example, I discovered I was good at writing and have since joined a creative writing group.”

Research

Framework: Five Ways to Wellbeing (New Economics Foundation) Connect: With people around: building connections supports and

enriches people’s lives

Be Active: Exercising lowers anxiety and reduces depression

Take Notice: Be curious and remarking on the unusual followed by

reflection helps people to appreciate

what matters to them

Keep Learning: Being set a challenge, learning something new

encourages confidence in people as well as

being fun

Give: Neuroscience shows that social cooperation is intrinsically

rewarding and increases a sense of

purpose in community

Participant feedback

“I have worked with

people of different

backgrounds and

ages before, but

never on anything

like this! It's

particularly

complex, and on a

big scale, and very

physical, which

emphasises our

diversity I think.”

Outcomes for Sadler’s Wells

Strategic partnership with Associates:

•Developing relationships with associate artists. Providing a vehicle for them to develop new ways of working, develop the skills and practice of their choreographers and giving them a stage to present their work. Unique opportunity for performers:

•Nurture and support a new generation of dance professionals, providing professional development at a stage where ordinarily they may not have gained experience in the real world.

Outcomes for Sadler’s Wells

Project design and strategy:

•The development of an in-house model of practice that can be applied to future projects (Compass – 23 April 1012)

•Identifying and working with new artistic talent for cross-disciplinary collaborations / productions. For example, working with emerging artists and writers to produce new, artistically challenging work.

•Reinforce and develop the skills of the Connect Team - refine and challenge their working practice.

Engaging the community/audience development:

•Develop new audiences for contemporary dance through the participants, their friends and family and wider network.

Outcomes for Sadler’s Wells

Impact and profile raising:

• Beneficial to the brand of Sadler’s Wells & the confidence to show a piece of community dance as part of the main programme on the main stage.

• Mainstream press recognition of the work of the Creative Learning Programme.

• Raised the profile of the Creative Learning Programme: internally and externally.

• Evaluation report been vital for evidencing our work. Useful for Learning dept and Development/Fundraising dept.