Ludus Dance Development Department 

The Ludus Dance, teachers and artists deliver work across Lancashire with all kinds of people, below is just a few of the projects, past and present that they have organised.

Current Projects 2006-

• The team celebrated huge success in April with the Ludus Youth Dance Showcase. Over 150 young people took part in this event which was held at the Charter Theatre, Preston. The Ludus team were also proud to present two short films at the Showcase that documented the preparation and backstage footage of the groups. Members from Ribble Valley, Beaumont College and the Ludus Youth Dance Company were interviewed for the films.

• Ludus have continued to work at Beaumont Scope College for young adults with special needs, providing ongoing creative arts work alongside the creative arts team at the college.  Students will be celebrating their creative dance work both in a sharing at the Nuffield Theatre in July and at the college’s Arts week.

• The dance development team have continued to work with Red Marsh School in Thornton for three years.  In May the school participated in a special school’s music festival at Ribby Hall in Kirkham, where the students shared creative dance work developed with Ludus. 

• The Ludus Youth Dance Company (LYDC) achieved success this term when they were selected by Youth Dance England to represent the North West at the National Youth Dance Festival 2006, to be held in Leeds during 17th – 21st July. LYDC presented their latest work, ‘Shamed’ at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and it was here that they were selected for the event. The group worked alongside Bettina Strickler (Founder member of Protein Dance), Stuart Waters (Motionhouse) and Lisi Perry (Collision) to generate ideas for the piece that explores anti-social behaviour and the darker side of youth culture. The final piece was then constructed by Ludus Artists Hannah Robertshaw and Vicky Thomas. Members of LYDC are also celebrating their successes at gaining entry into some of the UK’s top training establishments. Young people from the current company have been offered places at Laban, Northern, Rambert and the Place.

• The spring term saw Ludus artists Hannah Robertshaw and Anna Daly returning to Athens to deliver workshops at the ‘Inside Out’ Conference, focussing on social inclusion in the arts. This followed on from a project in November 2004 in which Hannah and Anna worked with young refugees in central Athens. The event was a great success and Ludus hopes to return to Greece to develop further training opportunities for teachers and artists.

• Anna Daly is continuing work with ‘Mini Movers’ groups aged 18 months- 3yrs, working in partnership with Sure Start for one session a week, and running three session a week at the Ludus studio’s.  Anna will also be involved in the research and development of M6’S new show based on bullying, targeted at early years.

• Ludus work widely amongst the local community working with all age ranges.  One group currently involved in these regular community sessions is Laurel Bank Care Home in Lancaster, participants ranging from 70-100 years.

• The team organise an annual Dance Cuts event, which is held at The Nuffield Theatre at Lancaster University.  The event is to showcase work of dance artists and choreographers in the North West; this years date is Saturday 2nd December 2006.

Past Projects

• Four creative dance sessions with Clapham Primary School, Yorkshire on the theme of ‘Dance from around the World’
• Regular developmental workshops with Years 3, 4, and 5 at Austwick Primary School, a small rural school in North Yorkshire. The theme was ‘The Senses’
• One off workshops in schools in Thornton Cleverleys.
• County Dance Development involving guest artists from the ‘Jiving Lindy Hoppers’ who lead a week of workshops across Lancashire. They performed at The Darwin Library Theatre’
• Weekly on going input to Expressive Arts course at Beaumont Scope College for young adults with special needs.
• Continuation of 3 year LYDP (Lancashire Youth Dance Project) funded by Esmee Fairbairn into its 19th month. Work carried out in West, East and Central Lancashire by Youth Dance Artists including regular youth company sessions, days of dance, taster sessions, educational input to national curriculum and youth training schemes with unemployed youth.
• Organisation of regular weekly classes in our Ludus Dance Centre. Contracting freelance dance tutors to lead sessions in Belly Dancing, Yoga, Ballet, Tap and Aerobics. Community Dance Artists lead sessions in Mini  Movers, Junior Youth Group, Pop Video (9-14), Soul Traders I and II (youth companies), Contemporary dance, Jazz and Professional class. (Timetable of classes)
• Lancashire County Council initiated project the ‘Children’s Festival’ held in the Easter Holidays. Dance Development Department lead two day workshop with 8-14 year olds to create dance piece on the theme of ‘Blast Off in to Space’ to perform at Dome Morecambe. Audience includes Mayor of Lancaster.
• Four creative dance sessions with Clapham Primary School, Yorkshire on the theme ‘Dance from around the World’.
• One day workshop working with students with severe learning difficulties to celebrate the Queens Jubilee at Tanfield School, Wigan.
• 2 day workshop with Lytham Primary School on a Japanese theme working towards a sharing.
• One off workshops in schools in Oldham, Fleetwood, Chorley, Blackpool, Austwick, Blackburn and Lancaster.
• County Dance Development and LYDP project involving guest artists from the Robert Hylton Company whom lead workshops across Lancashire. One week of workshops devising dance pieces with secondary school groups to be performed as curtain raisers at the Rose Theatre, Ormskirk alongside the company performance.
• Weekly on going input to Expressive Arts course at Beaumont Scope College for special needs young adults
• Phantom Guild Ball project focusing on re-enacting the Preston Guild balls. 5 secondary schools, an elderly group and a special needs group all involved culminating in a performance at the Harris Museum. An integrated arts project with musicians and costumes creating work with the students as well.
• 3 year LYDP funded by Esmee Fairbairn into its 12 month. Work carried out in West, East and Central Lancashire by Youth Dance Artists including regular youth company sessions, days of dance, taster sessions, educational input to national curriculum, youth training schemes with unemployed youth.
• Organisation of regular weekly classes in our Ludus Dance Centre. Contracting freelance dance tutors to lead sessions in Belly Dancing, Yoga, Tap, Ballet, Latin American dancing and Authentic movement. Community Dance Artists lead sessions in Mini Movers, Junior Youth Group, Pop Video (9-14), Soul Traders I and II (youth companies), Contemporary dance, Jazz and Professional class.