Integr8 Youth Dance Company

Integr8 is Ludus Dance's integrated dance group, comprising able and disabled dancers under 25 from across Lancashire.

Formed in 2002, the group was selected to perform at U.Dance North West Regional Platform 2011.

The classes enable young people, who could otherwise be excluded from dance activity, to access and develop specialised dance skills. Dancers are encouraged to develop their own creative practice and build relationships with new people, both able bodied and disabled.

The sessions intend to build confidence in leadership and choreography, whilst also developing dance technique and artistry to the best of the dancers' capabilities. The sessions also include sharing and appreciation of creative practice.

This term, 10 new company members have joined the 8 more-experienced dancers from last year's company. For the second year running, Integr8 are working in close collaboration with second-year Community Dance Students from UCLAN. The students have the opportunity to shadow sessions and develop skills in integrated dance, aiming to gain confidence to support with some of the facilitation of the session.

Integr8 have previously been selected for the Regional Youth Dance Showcase and have also been selected to perform in the Lancashire Youth Dance Festival at the Dukes Theatre in Lancaster.
 
The Ludus Dance Artists who facilitate Integr8 are specialised in the dance and disability field.

BBC Performing Arts Fund Success!

Integr8 are delighted to have been awarded funding from the BBC Performing Arts Fund to work with Lisa Simpson and Stephen Banning from Simpson Board Enterprises to create a new work.

Integr8 have already begun working with Lisa and Stephen, developing their own choreographic skills and movement material using the Simpson Board. The Simpson Board is an accessible choreography tool which provides opportunities for disabled people with limited or no verbal communication skills to choreograph.

The Company look forward to sharing their work early next year. More details to follow.

To see recent images of the project or for more information about The Simpson Board go to: http://www.simpsonboard.co.uk/about.htm 

For information about BBC Performing Arts Fund please see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/performingartsfund