'Twas a very good year!
We've had a jam packed 2016 and can't believe we're still only 1.5 year old! We have no wrinkles around the eyes just yet! Here's a quick glance of all the fab projects from this year!
JANUARY was all about NYC
We ventured across the Pond to New York City to showcase our critically acclaimed production, Within This Dust, at the legendary Martha Graham Studios. We met with curators, producers and agents and might just have some exciting news to share with you at the start of January!
FEBRUARY was all about Well Good
We could not be prouder of this fab project. A partnership with NHS Tayside, we deliver smoking awareness performances and workshops in 116 primary schools in Dundee, Angus and Perth & Kinross each year. We have worked with over 20k children on this project alone!
MARCH was all about The Unwanted
Tommy started research and development with dancer Vince Virr for a brand new piece that we hope to tour in 2017 called The Unwanted. It's all about the pieces of work that he has dreamt about for years but never been funded or commissioned to make them. It's dance theatre comedy about failure and resilience.
Tommy launching Shakespeare Shuffle on the Jonathan Ross Arts Show on BBC Radio 2
APRIL was all about Shakespeare Shuffle
In April, Tommy toured the UK to work with dancers of all ages and abilities to create the dance film Shakespeare Shuffle for the BBC Shakespeare Festival. We filmed at Times Square NYC, London Eye, The Kelpies and Blackpool Tower, and we even had some famous faces......platinum selling band The Overtones danced in it and BBC Radio 2 presenters Chris Evans, Sara Cox, Jonathan Ross all did some gorgeous voiceovers for it... in fact Tommy even appeared on Jonathan Ross show to launch it!
Watch the film here:
MAY was all about 360 Shakespeare
As if that was fun enough, we carried on our love of all things Shakespearean with a digital artwork - the Shakespeare Shuffle 360! Our Romeo (Vince) was searching for his Juliet and got the audience to dance along with him by using their mobile devices to follow in as he danced on and off the screen! it was great fun to watch audiences connect with our work in new ways! Follow us on Facebook to view the film!
Vince & Miranda rehearsing for 500 Words
JUNE was all about 500 Words
For the BBC Radio 2 500 Words short story competition, we worked with 5 of the children's stories to create 4 short dance films! They were launched on Sara Cox's Breakfast Show on the morning of the 500 Words final! Check them out here.
The Grannies Who Flew To The Moon: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03wxx6j
Reggie the Veggie
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03wxwhg
Travel Chaos:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03wxw5b
Wacky Wheelie Bin Races:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03wxw5b
JULY was all about LOVE/LIFE
We launched a very special project called LOVE/LIFE for people living with dementia and Alzheimer's in care homes across Fife. We also made a short film to accompany some of the stories we were lucky enough to hear about during this time. Watch the film here: https://youtu.be/ksg6HE_upQA
AUGUST was all about Cmd Shift Intensives
In August, we undertook a series of intensive workshops in Dundee, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire as part of our year long project Cmd Shift, funded by Creative Scotland's TTS.Digital Fund. Participants worked with us to create bespoke films and digital content for sharing at our final event later in the year!
SEPTEMBER was all about award winning!
In September, we were delighted to received a Curiosity Award! With this award, we undertook some research into building a zombie style performance led by digital interventions. We collaborated with the brilliant animator Retchy to create bespoke animations.
OCTOBER was all about the launch of What Next?
As part of Tommy's fellowship on the coveted Clore Leadership Programme, he was introduced to What Next? a national movement bringing people together to champion and advocate for the role of arts and culture in our society. We then set about establishing the very first What Next? chapter in Scotland bringing together all the movers and shakers from cultural organisations, educational institutions and freelancers together to talk about ways in which we might work together to change thinking around the the role of culture.
NOVEMBER was all about 13
The finale of our year long digital dance project, Cmd Shift! 13 saw us take over The Factory Skatepark in Dundee with performers from Dundee, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire dancing alongside bespoke projection mapped film and animation work. It was AMAZING!
DECEMBER was all about the launch of A Day To Play
This month, we launched our brand new dance classes with a twist - A Day to Play! A Day to Play brings bite sized versions of our critically acclaimed touring productions to cultural venues across Dundee. The idea is that we bring in new audiences to the venue (which is a different venue each time) and vice versa! Our first one started off with Isabel's Christmas Adventure based on our 4 star reviewed The Adventures of Isabel.