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News

Plastics friend or foe?

Dance Woking, along with an enthusiastic audience, sought answers from Akademi Dance’s family show ‘Plastic Drastic Fantastic’ with the company performing this highly engaging and imaginative show at Buzz Studio Theatre, Woking on 31 October & 1 November. The performance focussed on the amazing benefits the world has had from plastics and its use in everyday items that we now take for granted. However this was balanced against the drastic impact plastics have had on our environment, marine life and wildlife. This event was made possible by funding from Arts Council England’s project grant.

The highlight, Wednesday 1 November, a full action packed day of workshops and performance. The morning started with a CPD session led by Akademi Dance where Dance Woking’s outreach team were put through their paces with a professional level Bharatanatyam workshop.

Professional CPD led by Akademi

This was followed by children from Kingfield Primary school year 6, taking part in a preshow workshop, the children learnt South Asian hand gestures and movement from the show.

Kingfield Primary taking part in a workshop

Following a lunch break and a reset of the theatre, Akademi Dance performed Plastic Drastic Fantastic. The audience was highly focussed and engaged. Taking their inspiration from David Attenborough’s Planet Earth III series the company enacted a scene from this series highlighting the negative impact of plastic pollution on the ocean’s wildlife. Suba Subramaniam (CEO & Artistic Director Akademi) who led the Q&A after the performances urged the audience to watch the series and see for themselves. And to encourage young creatives to use dance movement to highlight issues that are important to them.

Feedback form children included:

‘I need to reuse plastic more’, ‘it makes me worry’, ‘it’s made me confused’

Suba Subramaniam (CEO & Artistic Director Akademi) led the Q&A

Dance Woking received funding from Arts Council England’s project grant scheme to use dance to focus on the human condition and raise awareness of sociopolitical and environmental issues. Dance Woking has been greatly impacted by Woking Borough Council funding cuts and support from Arts Council England has meant the organisation has been able to continue to use dance to support improved health and wellbeing. Akademi’s family show was part of this project and programmed to compliment Dance Woking’s stimulus Reduce, Reuse, Recycle for Platform week at the end of November.

Platform week starts on Tuesday 28 November at Rhoda McGaw Theatre with Dance Woking’s Young Dancemakers Platform. Local schools and colleges are finalising their dances as they prepare to take to the stage. The platform is an opportunity for children and young people to experience what it’s like to perform in a professional theatre. Alongside this the benefits are immense from give building self esteem and confidence, peer to peer support, mutual support, building communities and learning from each other.

Following them is Step Up, on Thursday 30 November, a new platform featuring dance styles that follow steps! We have an eclectic mix of styles and groups which include 2023’s World Tap champion, Diana Towe. More details to follow.

Dance Woking’s highly popular Innovate Community Dance Platform closes the week on Saturday 2 December. Tickets are available from ATG box office: HERE

News

Hunky Dory December holiday Clubs Bookings now open

Dance Woking is thrilled to be offering a Hunky Dory Christmas Holiday Club in collaboration with Club4.

Come and enjoy a 2-day Christmas holiday club with arts & crafts and dancing for children in primary school years 4 to year 6. There will also be a performance of Roald Dahl and the Imagination Seekers by Get Lost & Found. A mischievous & inventive theatrical family show

Monday 18 & Tuesday 19 December: 9.30am – 2.30pm daily

The Hunky Dory Christmas Club will run at The Maybury Centre, Board School Lane, Woking, GU21 5HD

To book and for more information click HERE

The Hunky Dory Christmas Club will run at Lakeview Community Centre, Hartshill Walk, Horsell, Woking, GU21 3AG

Tuesday 19 & Wednesday 20 December: 9.30am – 2.30pm daily

To book and for more information click HERE

Registration starts each day from 9.30, with a jam packed day of activities until 2.30pm. *

A hot lunch will be provided, you will be able to choose from a selected menu, special dietary requirements can be catered for.

The club is open to all levels and abilities. Where applicable children will be split by age.

Booking fees apply

News

FREE Workshop Tuesday 31 October

A group of children, kneeling in front of the Plastic Drastic Fantastic exhibition installation, gather together excitedly looking at the artwork with their backs to the viewer.

Plastic Drastic Fantastic workshop

11.30am – 12.30pm

Buzz Studio, First Floor Peacocks Shopping Centre, Victoria Way, Woking, GU21 6GQ

Take a journey through the fantastic and drastic world of plastic! Explore the fascinating properties of plastic through movement-based play and experiment with unconventional ways to upcycle.

Learn Mudra, expressive hand gestures used in classical South Asian dance forms, to tell a story and co-create a unique dance sequence.

Get seriously creative together in a fun, interactive experience for the whole family.

For all ages and abilities.

Booking required: CLICK HERE to book your place

Following the workshop we have a family performance of Plastic Drastic Fantastic by Akademi

Tickets can be purchased following this link: CLICK HERE for more details CLICK HERE

News

New Street Dance Club

A fun & creative dance club using urban dance styles

Thursday’s 5pm – 6pm

Open to children aged 10 to 14 years

Dance Woking’s new Street Dance Club will use different urban and street dance styles with a focus on having fun, learn some new moves and get fit in a creative weekly dance club.

Thursday 2 November until Thursday 14 December

The dance sessions will include warm up/cool down, choreography and also creative movement where dancers will be encouraged to get involved.

Free taster session on 2 November – booking essential follow this link: HERE

Dance Woking is partnering with Freedom Leisure and being supported by Shanly Foundation and Arts Council England

News

CPD for professional dancers

Dance Woking is delighted to be hosting a CPD workshop led by Akademi Dance in conjunction with their highly acclaimed performance Plastic Drastic Fantastic created for children and their families

Venue: Buzz Studio, 1st Floor Peacocks Shopping Centre (next to Nail bar), Victoria Way, Woking, GU21 6GH

Time: 10.30am – 2.30pm

Fee: £20.00 includes a 2 hour professional dancer CPD & a ticket to see Plastic Drastic Fantastic

Plastic….is it friend or foe? Remarkable or rubbish? Helpful or harmful? Dance Woking is pleased to be able to present Plastic Drastic Fantastic a contemporary dance theatre work for children and their families created by Akademi Dance. This has been made possible following funding support received from an Arts Council England Project Grant.

For more information and to book your place click HERE

News

Dance Woking is recruiting

Various roles including Project Coordinator, Dance Teachers, Holiday Club Assistants

Freelance Project Coordinator, up to £13.50/hour

This is a key role working alongside the Engagement Manager.  This position is offered on a fixed term freelance basis to help enable Dance Woking to build its audience base and raise its profile within the local community through both community bespoke and targeted community engagement interactions. It is suitable for an enthusiastic, passionate and personable individual to support Dance Woking’s audience development programme, this role will work across both community engagement and marketing. More information

Freelance dance Teachers, up to £30/hour

Dance Woking is looking for experienced dance teachers and community practitioners to join our outreach team on a freelance basis. The focus for this work will be to join the delivery team, working in schools and in the local community for the Autumn & Winter 2023/24 where you will be responsible for teaching groups who may or may not have dance experience. More information

Holiday Club Assistants, Minimum wage

Dance Woking is looking for holiday club dance assistants to join us on a part-time basis to support our Autumn 2023 programme of activities. The focus for this work will be to join our experienced delivery team, working in the local community where you will be responsible for assisting in all elements of the programme. More Information

Trustees, no renumeration

Dance Woking is seeking new Trustees to join its Board. Interested in a new opportunity to lead and influence a dance charity?  

It’s a challenging time for Dance Woking as we develop and create a new strategic direction following changes in funding. We are looking for new trustees to support the organisation as we change and adapt to meet the changing needs within the community and environment.   We are seeking candidates with experienced in fundraising, corporate social responsibility, environmental, health, financial management, social media, marketing, education, entrepreneurial enterprises, IT, legal, the local community. more information

News

Dance Woking Trustees and CEO statement

Children watching a performance

In response to the recent announcement in the local and national press regarding the funding cuts enforced by Woking Borough Council, Dance Woking maybe forced to close in March 2024. The loss of Woking Borough Council’s funding has a significant impact on the sustainability of the charity’s future; we will continue our activities until March 2024  made possible by funding from Arts Council England, Surrey Community Foundation, Active Surrey (Club4) and Shanly Foundation who value the breadth of Dance Woking’s work.

Dance Woking has been providing dance led opportunities since 1994, over the years we have changed our approach to support our evolving community. Our work is essential to the physical and mental wellbeing of the thousands of people we engage and empower. With the funding we received from Woking Borough Council, we raise a further 60% plus of match funding to ensure we can deliver the opportunities and support that the Woking community needs through Trusts and income raised from individuals through workshop fees and ticket sales.

Over the next six months we will continue to seek additional sources of funding and ways to diversify our income to become more sustainable. We are acutely aware of the impact our closure would have on the local community and the team of highly qualified and experienced dance artists and professional companies we employ and work with to deliver our programme.

Through our work Dance Woking reaches thousands of individuals throughout the town’s diverse communities, from young people considered ‘hard-to-reach’ and ‘under-privileged’ to refugees and those living with dementia; our support goes beyond dance class provision.

Dance in Woking is vital; it is an extremely versatile activity. For over 29 years our work has supported the local community’s mental health and wellbeing; improved their fitness; and engaged and empowered Woking’s diverse communities. By providing this support on their own turf, we’ve reduced social inequalities through watching, engaging and performing dance, that without Dance Woking are out of reach for many people. Through our work we make a difference to the lives of individuals. This summer we delivered a project with Woking based SEN School The Park, which resulted in multiple profound benefits, the impact on one student, was described by his teacher: “The power of dance offered to this young man in a safe, nurturing environment, had developed his confidence, helped him to regulate his emotions, involved his whole family and invoked a huge sense of pride in them all.”

In the past week we have worked with the over 65s at Kingsley Care Home and Brockhill Residential Centre as part of our Travelling Tea Dance Tour. The impact of this work on individuals is felt on multiple levels, one attendee said “I have MS. I can go out, it takes a lot of effort and planning… I also realise I can focus on what I can do, other than what I can’t. I can join in here in my own way” another said “My husband died two weeks ago. I felt really down this morning, not having a good day. This activity has picked me up a bit. I feel slightly lighter.” 

We also delivered an enrichment day at Knaphill School to inspire, educate and boost confidence through dance as they start the new term. The day promoted teamwork, resilience and new experiences for the young people involved. In the last 12 months almost 4000 individuals participated in a Dance Woking led activity.

If you are interested in the work of Dance Woking and would like to offer your support during these uncertain times please get in touch, we’d love to hear from individuals, as well as organisations looking to collaborate. We can accept donations online https://www.dancewoking.com/donate-now/and if you are interested in volunteering or joining our board of trustees please complete the contact form on our website: https://www.dancewoking.com/contact/

Main Photo: Dance Woking on the road with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Doorstep Duets, in July 2023. Widening arts access, enabling high quality, inspirational and impactful arts to reach and engage local communities.

News

Fantastic Fun at Lakeview

Dance Woking had a fun filled day of action at Lakeview Fun Day on Saturday 12 August supporting the entertainment field bringing community dance, participation and professional dance to the event. Despite the bouts of torrential rain that threatened to disrupt the day, the local community turned out in support of this great event. Featured photo: Mayor of Woking, Cllr M Ilyas Raja

Opening the event and introducing the first community dance group was event organiser Lorraine Golli on behalf of Lakeview Community Action Group (LCAG). Amala, a modern fusion style Bellydance Troupe, delighted the audience with their coordinated outfits and colourful skirts and percussion. Performing an improvised piece they were well received and set the tone for the rest of the day. If you are interested in taking up belly dancing new members for the start of their new season in September are welcome: To find out more enquire HERE

Amala with their modern fusion Bellydance

Time for action, Dance Woking’s Maypole expert Nicky led the first Maypole dancing workshop of the day, with participants, made up of performers and some willing residents showed off their coordination and dancing skills. Sam McCaffrey, CEO & Artistic Director Dance Woking said, ‘We have been working at Lakeview Community Centre for a number of years now including bringing dance to various Youth Groups, including Young Carers. More recently and this summer we have been delivering our Hunky Dory Holiday Dance Club for children aged 8 to 11 years old, supported by funding from Club4 managed by Active Surrey. We have really enjoyed the opportunity to partner with LCAG to bring inspirational dance activity to the local community and join other users of Lakeview Community Centre to highlight the opportunities and support for residents that is available locally‘.

Maypole Dancing with Dance Woking

Inbetween the dance platforms highly talented local musicians performed. They hailed from St Andrews Church, Goldsworth Park, music club nights. The morning sessions saw Matt Kitsell & Friends perform followed by Serious Skittle.

MCDC performed their highly acclaimed and entertaining piece ‘Fish Out of Water’

This family-friendly outdoor dance performance used hip hop, interactive sculptures & responsive music to explore themes of belonging, otherness, displacement & migrancy.

Graham Kirby-Smith & friends performed next on music stage followed by Global Grooves, Langton in full African headgear supported by MCDC’s wrapper.

Audience members had the opportunity to join in the performance with African drums and shakers.

Bellytricks, a local belly dance group based in Brookwood, performed to a lively piece of music, entertaining the crowds with their coordinated movement and colourful costumes. If you’d like to try this fun dance form, the group are seeking new members. To find out more enquire HERE

NIcky was back in action with the second Maypole workshop. This time it was an intergenerational affaire, with the sun making a welcome appearance.

Alex (Spacific) Brown took to the music stage followed the amazing beautiful voice of Jackie Cohen.

MCDC’s second performance had a surprising guest, Mayor of Woking, Cllr M Ilyas Raja, join the participation element to the delight of those watching.

Closing the event, following the grand prize draw (and there were lots of amazing prizes), by Lorraine Golli (LCAG) supported by leader of the Council Cllr Anne-Marie Barker, were highly acclaimed band Cajun Boogaloo. With over 300 local people supporting the event it was a truly great day out. Dance Woking was able to attend the fun day following funding support from Surrey Community Action, Sparks Fund; Arts Council England’s Project Grants Fund and Woking Borough Council.

Further elements of the day were captured by Studio Thirteen and can be seen by following this link: Lakeview Community Day (LCAG) by Studio Thirteen Media (pixieset.com)

News

We are recruiting

Dance Woking has a series of opportunities from experienced community dance artists to those just starting out on their journey into community dance. For further details follow the link: HERE

Alongside the paid opportunities we are also seeking volunteers to support the organisation through joining our Board. For details about Trustee roles please follow the link: HERE

Outreach team learning a dance routine

News

Lakeview Community Fun Day

Saturday 12 August, 11am – 4pm

Dance Woking is preparing to attend Lakeview Community Fun Day on Saturday 12 August

We are delighted to have received funding support from Woking Sparks Fund to be able to participate in the day. Along with an opportunity to try Maypole Dancing, MCDC will perform their highlighly engaging and entertaining piece ‘Fish Out of Water’

For more details CLICK HERE