Barrowland Ballet PPP GWT Conference 6th March, Glasgow 2019
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Wolf Pack - setting up an intergenerational dance performance company By Natasha Gilmore, Artistic Director, Barrowland Ballet
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Barrowland Ballet PPP GWT Conference 6th March, Glasgow 2019
- 4. “Working inter-generationally allows for a unique equality in the relationship that I'm not sure I've found in other situations. I love the way age barriers seem to get broken down when we dance.” – Participant
- 5. “This tender and affectionate choreography on such a large scale was a beautiful celebration of being alive, active and healthy.” - London Dance.com
- 7. “It was lovely to be part of a project involving such a diverse range of ages and style of performance.” - Participant
- 10. “It will send you back onto the streets with joy in your heart and a spring in your step and a renewed pride in this wonderful place.” ★★★★★- The Public Reviews
- 14. “Typically bold and uplifting... superbly life-affirming and hugely moving... charged with images of rebellion against conventional order, of standing up to those who - for whatever reason - exclude and discriminate against you.” ★★★★★ The Herald
Editor's Notes
- I’m Natasha Gilmore, artistic director with Barrowland Ballet. Barrowland Ballet produce contemporary dance theatre know for work that’s rooted in personal stories and delivered with wit and humour. We are a part of the national portfolio of companies that are regular funded to create and tour work Nationally and Internationally. Last year alone our work toured throughout Scotland and was featured at festivals in Japan, China, Canada, the US, central and Eastern Europe, on one memorable day last year we were performing simultaneously in Shetland and Shanghai. The company’s professional work is directly linked to its community involvement and the two are inter-dependent with one inspiring the other.
- A Conversation with Carmel https://vimeo.com/26417408 Intergeneration work is always something I’ve been interested in as an artist A number of our professional touring works include an intergenerational cast
- A Conversation with Carmel https://vimeo.com/26417408 (press Alt + Q to end video before clicking to next slide) Here is a short film about A Conversation with Carmel
- Invited here today to talk about setting up and running our Intergen Company- The Wolf Pack Set up 2016 Funded by Young Start, Postcode Lottery, with space supported by Tramway We did a call out for participants of 7+ and were immediately over subscribed, To put this in context we had delivered a number of participatory projects over the years.
- In Dancing Voices we worked with150 older dancers from across Scotland 60+ and a 40 strong choir
- Dancing voices 60 of the dancers had not participated in dance activity before other than social dancing We developed a 3 tier approach
- We also delivered a number of intergenerational projects Bunty and Doris 2013 broke past the ‘frail’ exterior and discovered the youthful ravers beneath, celebrating the connections across generations.
- Bunty and Doris 2013 cast ranging from 2 to 86 years old
- Two for tea made in conjunction with the short film ‘Two for Tea’ as part of a double bill exploring stages of life over a cup of tea.
- As part of the Commonwealth Games Cultural Programme we made The River (2014) performed site specific along the banks of the River Clyde in Glasgow and the Thames in London
- The River was created and performed by Barrowland Ballet's professional ensemble, alongside a large intergenerational community cast of 150 dancers and choirs and professional musicians from across Scotland
- A key factor in the background of our intergenerational company is the Barrowland Ballet Youth Group that was established from 2012 – 2016 Provide young people in Glasgow, primarily from deprived backgrounds and with additional needs, the opportunity to participate in professionally led dance workshops and performances regardless of ability or background. Following the success of Bunty and Doris and The River in discussion with the young people who said they had really loved working with the older dancers, we decided to change the group into The Wolf Pack – an intergenerational performance company.
- At this point we began recruitment for our Intergenerational company We did a call out receiving lots of interest from past participants as well as people new to us Over subscribed so we had a few taster sessions and then put the names in a hat We created an Age structures to ensure all ages were represented with approx. 7 from each category 7-12 13-24 25-55 55+
- The Wolf Pack We meet weekly at Tramway and make work for stage and short dance films The group was launched to participate in a piece called Wolves involved over 75 intergenerational participants, and reached nearly 2,000 audience members across 2 major Scottish venues.
- The choreographic approach to Wolf Pack places older dancers alongside younger people, both in the rehearsal room and on stage Playful choreographic tasks and improvisations break through assumptions regarding the vigour, dynamism and creativity of older people and disrupts the notion that only young bodies reflect and engage in contemporary culture
- Through this approach, we hope to value a diversity of voices and disrupt the conventions of who is usually visible in professional theatre.
- What next? We remain committed to – curious, excited!- about working intergenerationally The membership of wolf pack continues to evolve– allowing for new connections, conversations and creation We are recognised as leaders in field of intergenerational dance practice. A few months ago I delivered a series of workshops in Shanghai about our intergenerational practice and we will be supporting them in the setting up of a new intergenerational performance company based at a primary school. I will leave you with one of the Wolf Pack’s short films, Wolves
- Wolf Video https://vimeo.com/251784094 password: wolf42 (press Alt + Q to end video before clicking to next slide)
- Thank you