Three Reports
Report 1: - Sport in the community
Dance N I's ultimate driving force is to see equality of dance on a par with other art forms in Northern Ireland while attracting international recognition for Northern Ireland’s dance talent, events, school and education and professional standards.
Dance N I aims to be at the forefront of dancesport development in the community, to making a significant development contribution, through which indigenous dance talent flourishes and to act as an industry led dance agency. With that said they also want to develop dance studios and are seeking a purposed built dance centre for the Northern Ireland community.
Dance NI also promote the benefits of dance by demonstrating health, creative, social, spiritual aspects to all age groups and communities. This aspect of the organisation has attracted support from Ballygowan Water with their new advertisements on TV and their financial contributions. Ballygowan see Dance NI as a perfect partnership in promoting wellbeing. With Ballygowan on board this has helped with funding and sponsorship of the Earthquake festival. Dance NI facilitate access to dance in all areas and for all socio-economic and cultural groups with guidance and information source for dancesport students, professionals and the general public. Other aims of Dance N I are to facilitate training and performance, with support in schools and education. To stimulate awareness of dance through promotion in the media. Education and outreach is a large part of the Dance NI programme as this is seen as an important part of development within the local community. The Education Department run training, roadshows and masterclasses for schools and community groups. Tailored dance packages offered to schools and community groups comprising of workshops, performances, demonstrations, EMU projects, curriculum support, lectures, career information, Tasters/aferschools and an intensive 2-day package and special events.
Dance NI has developed the “Atlantic Dance Exchange”, an international exchange for dancers in cooperation with the dance faculty of the University of Colorado at Boulder in America. Reciprocal visits will be arranged for students, tutors and practitioners.
Dance NI has sucessfully lobbied for the introduction of the first degree opportunity iin Dance for Northern Ireland.
Report 2: - Youth Sport North West
Within the company they have educational and outreach projects on going thoughout the year, theses project have moved from strength to strength over the last few years. The structure of the project cleverly overlaps, so individuals/ organisations can participate in one aspect of the project, and these inital links are built upon.so they can tap into other dance opportunities throughout the year. The audience development project is therefore not a "flash in the pan", or a quick-fix answer, but is laying down strong foundations for all members of the community to enjoy and participate in many aspects of dancesport, catering for a wide range of objectives and needs.
Within the project they have many roadshows, these offer primary/secondary schools, colleges and community centres within N.Ireland a tailored dancesport package operational from their site.
Each of the organisations that they work for, have different aims and obectives, and DNI attempt to craft the outreach project to accommodate these, foscuing on educational, physical, social, intellectual, creative and emotional needs. The roadshows have been used for MU projects, school plays, health days, PE/Dance GCSE targets, personal development, cross-curricular projects, confidence booter, or just for pure fun!
All schools/centres who have undertaken a roadshow automatically become a member of DNI, and receive regular information of other DNI opportunites throughout the year which they often avail of. These include: summer school, gala night, all Ireland Youth Dance Festival, reisidencies, Earthquake Festival, etc. The feedback from the roadshows has been outstanding from teachers, leaders and participants alike. Many schools have asked the dance tutors to stay on and teach weekly, developing sturdy foundations of dance in the heart of the school. Others have asked for choreographers to help develop skills for schools entries in dance competitions. Community centres and health organisations have requested intensive hoilday dance sessions. It is anticpated that the roadshows will prove an invaluable asset for teachers due to the change in the Northern Ireland PE curriculum.
Report 3: - Sports development event management & Organisation
Dance Northern Ireland runs the best dance festival on the island of Ireland call ' Earthquake'. Within my placement I had a unique opportunity to be involved in various aspects of administration, management, marketing and both performance and workshop participation. Dance Northern Ireland is the largest organisation within Ireland for the development of dance within the community. Using the considerable draw and appeal of Earthquake festival they can bring dance to society by giving a unique insight into dance and the doors that can be opened by it. “This expansion of earthquake around northern Ireland underlines the policy of Dance NI to take the message of movement to as wide an audience as possible”. This year the media coverage of Earthquake saw a massive increase, including coverage of the world premiere of the Siobhan Davies Dance Company's bird song in the times.The world premiere was a major honour for DNI and illustrates earthquake-growing importance on the dance and sports scene. In addition, they staged two United Kingdom and five Irish Premieres with dancers and companies from the US Switzerland, England, the Republic of Ireland, Greece, India, Brazil, Argentina, Spain and China. Virtually every form of dance was included in the many performance, workshops and masterclass and this year almost 600 people took part within the free workshops. Special guests tutors included Liz Lea, Sarah Cremer, Banxy and David Capps Head of dance at the University of Colorado at Boulder, who was oneof the judges at the Tyrone Crystal Youth dance evening.
Two of the highlights were the visits to the Grand Opera House of the world famous dance theatre of Harlem – For Earthquake first collaboration with the theatre and the stunning Zurich Ballet Company to the Millennium Forum.
We had Encouraging attendances at all our venues, “ says DNI Director, Vicki Maguire,” which was a clear indication that earthquake is catching the attention of the general public. It is now a celebration of dance with a reputation for excellence.
Job Description
Dance N I placed me as an Outreach assistant's role. Within this role I had unique insights with the organisation and took my lead from the Project Manager Jane Moore. For me this was a great time to join up with Dance NI, as they were in full flight with the awarding winning festival Earthquake. My job description with Dance NI was never going to be normal. As aspects of the Earthquake Festival were taking priority it was evident from day one that my involvement would be priority based rather than routine. I worked as a team member and each day's placement took on different tasks that were allocated.
Daily Diary
First meeting 18th February
Meeting with The Director - Vicki Maguire - initial interview and discussion. Questions asked from bothsides about the placement. Vicki the managing director also asked would I open the festival for her, which would be held in the Waterfront. This event was for the press and danceni members.
Second meeting 28th February
An introductiion to the team - An explanation of daily administration tasks ie correspondence, responding to enquiries verbal and written, follow up on research items, check tutor availability.document all responses, database entry for mailshot, preparation of distribution lists, liason to and from various team members,preparation for workshops, preparation for press launch,poster planning and distribution. Completion of Daily Diary
3rd March Press Release at Waterfront
Performance at The Waterfront press launch, liason with press and TV and other dance facilitators/performers on the day. Went to the Waterfront early, also given a dressing room and went through things with all of the sound/lighting technicians. Then the show begain, with myself and my partner Jamielee Gibson opening the whole festival.
11th March
Routine daily adminsitration tasks as defined as at 28th February
18th March
Routine daily administration tasks as define as at 28th February
25th March
Poster run around the Belfast/Lisburn area
Mailshot run to ensure that 5000 leaflets reached their targets with personal contact at each venue as the Dance NI representative member.
Targets achieved -
Crescent Art Centre
Old Museum Belfast
Ni Visitors Convention Centre
BIFHE
Welcome Centre
Queens Student Union
Linenhall library
Waterfront Hall
Island Arts Centre - Lisburn
Ulster Musem
Europa Hotel
Jurys Hotel
Lurgan Town Hall
9th April
Attendance at Island Arts Centre for workshop in Latin American and liason, facilitation and assistance on the day with the Event Coordinator.
Representation on the evening of the Gala Night at the Island Arts Centre and personal involvement with the Ballet Lorient event. Acting ambassador for Dance NI on the evening. With mention in the driectors speech at the start of the night, as part of the danceni team.
22nd April
My final day at Dance NI consisted of documentation of press launch and feedback, meeting with the Project Manager to ensure that all tasks allocated had been fulfilled and final meeting with the Driector to ensure that all my placement objectives and tasks had been covered and all outreach objectives met. Follow up meeting with the Director to ensure that all documentation for University feedback has been completed. Also a thank you to the team for allowing my placement with them.
..