The culmination of almost two years worth of planning, collaboration with national dance companies, local arts organisations, tourist attractions, promoters and individual dance artists has finally arrived.
Dance Live! Bristol is a month long opportunity for everyone, regardless of age or experience, to watch, participate and enjoy dance in its many forms throughout the city, from 22 August to 22 September 2002.
The month long celebration has emerged from a partnership between South West Arts Marketing and Bristol Area Dance Agency which came about as a result of the South West Arts / Bristol City Council Dance Review 2000. The twin aims of the month-long initiative, which address the priorities for future dance development identified in the review, are to develop audiences for dance and raise the profile of dance in Bristol and the surrounding area. The project has been made possible through the support of South West Arts Regional Arts Lottery Programme and funding from Bristol City Council and South Gloucester Council.
The month long programme was put together with the assistance of local promoters and venues across the city. In addition to which Dance Live! Bristol has programmed some specific events reactively after undertaking an initial street survey to ascertain the wants of the general population of Bristol in respect of the proposed dance festival. It remains to be seen if the responsive nature of the programming alters the known profile of dance attenders locally.
Central to the whole initiative is to find out information on who is currently attending dance performances and classes within the Bristol Area and collect that information both mapping the characteristics of these people in terms of socio demographic profiling, and locating where they are coming from. Just as important is to find out the reasons for non- attendance so that future effective audience development initiatives can be implemented. South West Arts Marketing has obtained the assistance of Bristol City Council, Marketing and Operations Department to assist with the extensive evaluation of the project.
Pre-event local media coverage has been phenomenal, with the July press launch featuring in all the local papers and the event reaching number 1 nationally in the Guardian Guide’s most wanted list the week prior to the festival start. Radio interviews with BBC Radio Bristol, Star FM and Galaxy have all taken place. Total pre launch press coverage is worth in excess of an estimated £2, 500, in terms of the cost if it were paid for advertising. Dance Live! also has a dedicated web page on both the BBC’s and GWRfm’s websites.
In addition to which Dance Live! Bristol has been working with BBC Radio Bristol to set up a dedicated action line during the festival month and a week-long series of radio interviews with dance artists, in addition to which they have really taken the month of dance to their hearts as they are themselves hosting a day when members of the public can come and dance with one of their presenters, Susan Osman at Bristol Dance Centre. GWR fm have allowed Dance Live! to use their morning crew for publicity stills and have provided substantial support in kind for the outdoor events that are being held.
With over 40 events happening in more than 20 locations during the month long festival, there is something to see or do almost every day. The exciting programme is packed with performances, films, exhibitions, demonstrations, classes and tasters which will take place in locations throughout the city, in venues, outdoor spaces and unusual places; including Salsa Spectacular at Bristol Zoo Gardens, and the spectacular and hilarious Air Dance Company at QEH Theatre. There are also opportunities to join lunchtime taster sessions at the Podium on Broadmead, from Belly Dancing to Breakdancing.
The festival kicked off with a chance to be transported back to the decadent world of pre-war Berlin in a screening of the classic award-winning film Cabaret at the IMAX at-Bristol on Thursday 22 August. To set the atmosphere of sensuality for the evening Tango West performed Argentinean Tango in the IMAX foyer between 6pm-7pm. Other favourite dance films from the 1930s to the 1990s are showing in special Sunday Double Bills at Arnolfini throughout the month.
Sunday 25 August was World Dance Day in the Lloyds TSB Amphitheatre, a day of free fun and entertainment for all the family. English National Ballet, Rambert Dance Company, Dhol Blasters, Tap Extravaganza and the Bristol School of Samba were just some of the names taking part in this extraordinary celebration of dance styles from around the globe.
Burning the candle at both ends? The young people of South Gloucestershire and Bristol were, as were there proud parents when they participated in Midnight Oil, a one-off performance on Saturday 31 August, 10.45pm-11.45pm, at the Old Fire Station club featuring some of the finest young dancers from Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
During the month internationally acclaimed dance companies Ballet Rambert and CandoCo worked with local communities to create new pieces of work to be premiered in Bristol, and central to the whole month was celebrating the wealth of talented dance artists who live here in Bristol but rarely get an opportunity to showcase their work.
For details of the full programme including classes and opportunities to look at event reviews go to www.dancelivebristol.com or call Bristol Tourist Information on 0117-926-0767.
The full evaluative report on Dance Live! Bristol will be available from South West Arts Marketing from May 2003. See future SWAM newsletters for regular Dance Live! updates.
2002-2008 © Audiences South West