PRESS RELEASE JUNE 2008
Big Dance Week to Big Dance Day
FRONTLINEdance is leading on a project that will bring some unusual sights to the city thanks to funding from the Arts Council, Stoke-On-Trent City Council and North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership. This exciting project brings together a arrange of artists including those from locally based FLD, Staffordshire Dance Collective and Rotten Park Road Theatre Company.
A ‘Game of 2 Arfs’, taking place on Saturday 9 August, will see local people of all ages come together with professional performers for site specific performances taking place around the city centre using contemporary dance, poetry, aerial dance, music and theatre.
But before all that happens you can catch some tasters with activities taking place every
Saturday 11am-4pm in the build up to the event starting this week as part of Big Dance
Week (5-13 July). A poet will be on hand to collect stories and ideas from shoppers and
those working in the city plus volunteers will be providing information about how to watch
or get involved.
In addition, the Friends of FRONTLINEdance are holding an event this Saturday 12 July at 7pm-11pm, open to all at St. John's Centre, (A34), Newcastle Road, Trent Vale. The event is a fun social evening to help raise funds and publicity that will include some bingo practice ready for the big day, music, food and the opportunity to join in some dance and receive a free Big Dance Week t-shirt. Tickets are just £5.00 /£2.00 under 15's (under 5's
free). Food is included and you can bring your own drink. For tickets and information please contact: 01782 285754 or email admin@frontlinedance.org.uk
Artistic Director Rachael Lines said “this is a great opportunity for the company to be able to produce something on this scale and with so many partners really getting behind us including the City Council, Hanley Markets, the Potteries Shopping Centre and Gala Bingo. We lead a lot of community and school dance workshops and this will bring profile to that work as well as enable us to work with new people. As an integrated dance company working with people of all ages we are looking for people interested to come and join in.”
So young performers who can dance, act and especially those who have a talent for free running or on bmx bikes get in touch, rehearsals are in the summer holiday and at weekends. For those who work in the city we’d really like you to get involved in some quick and easy steps as part of a parade taking place on the 9 August, plus there are community groups for adults of all ages.
If you’d like to get involved as a performer or behind the scenes contact the office on:
01782 285754 or email admin@frontlinedance.org.uk
FRONTLINEdance
Cartwright House, Mitchell Memorial Theatre, Broad Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 4EU
Tel: 01782 285754 Fax: 01782 785812 Email: admin@frontlinedance.org.uk
Web: www.frontlinedance.org.uk Company Registration No: 4325883
Notes to Editors
Further details and photo opportunities can be organised through Project Manager Claire Marshall on
07775 712788 or email claire.marshall@mac.com
FRONTLINEdance (www.frontlinedance.org.uk) is an integrated dance company of
professional disabled and non-disabled dancers. We provide opportunities and access to a
range of dance activities for all ages and abilities and strive to target those who would not
normally take part. We ain to raise self-esteem, confidence, teamwork skills and
inspiration, to raise awareness of what is possible and promote positive responses to both
disability and to dance.
Game of 2 ‘Arfs is a day of contemporary dance, poetry, Aerial dance, music and theatre!
FRONTLINEdance host a day of site specific contemporary dance in collaboration with
Rotten Park Theatre Company, Staffordshire Dance Collective, Greg Hall (composer &
musician) local poets, bmx'ers, free runners, breakers and the community of Stoke-on-
Trent. It will see the community of Stoke engaged as participants and audiences in a
professional dance performance with poetry and theatre. This contemporary dance event
will take place in public spaces in Hanley City Centre, specifically Gala Bingo, the Potteries
Shopping Centre and Market Hall. (www.gameof2arfs.co.uk)
Rotten Park Road Theatre Co. (www.rottenparkroad.com) is an emerging, award-winning
theatre company dedicated to new writing and innovative theatre, based in Stoke on Trent.
Formerly known as 'Random Productions', founded by Lynne and Patrick in 2004, the
team now consists of four artists: Matt, Lynne, Patrick and Dean. Patrick and Lynne will be
the artists involved in the drama element of ‘Game of 2 Arfs’.
Professional acting credits include Cold Blood (ITV), Playtime for the Suicidal (Stage), A
Story for when we’re Grandads (Stage), Effie’s Nerves (Stage), Megalomaniac Blues
(Short Film) and Don’t Blink, Don’t Breathe (Rehearsed Reading). In 2006 Patrick wrote,
starred in and directed A Story for when we’re Grandads, where the show was nominated
for Best Production and went on to win Patrick the Best New Writing award.
Staffordshire Dance Collective (www.staffsdancecollective.co.uk)
Clare Reynolds is an established Community Dance Artist and works within a variety of
settings including schools, hospitals, gypsy and traveller communities and prisons, as well
as delivering workshops for FRONTLINEdance, Planet Sound Community Arts and
Capoeira Art Brasil.
Lisa Wetton is Creative Director of Physically Speaking – The Foundation for Natural
Dance and has collaborated on various projects including Arts Council West Midlands
Moving Image Initiative, ‘Fracture’ and has worked as a special skills artist for Granada
Television.