Trapped
Our new Dance in Education Show
Ludus Dance is Britain's leading dance in education company and is recognised world-wide for its gripping, humourous, intelligent and incisive dance theatre for young people and first time dance audiences.
TRAPPED tells the story of a young girl and her mother caught in a life ruled by routine. One day, the mother fails to return home. The daughter sets off on a journey filled with extreme emotions where if she is to succeed in finding her mother, she must learn to negotiate this disturbing and at times seductive terrain.
A story about emotions and relationships.
Why has Ludus Dance chosen to make a performance like this?
TRAPPED will be performed in a range of venues including theatres and schools, so we wanted to make a piece of theatre that is moving and that everyone can relate to, and that has educational value. ‘Emotional intelligence’ or ‘EQ’ is the ability to be aware of our own and others emotions and promote good relationships. Psychologists and educational researchers have found that EQ is as important (if not more important) than IQ in determining whether a person will be healthy, wealthy and/or happy in life and, moreover, EQ can be learnt. TRAPPED offers school pupils and their teachers a stimulus for emotional learning.
The show raises questions such as “What happened to the mother?” “Who or what are ‘the twins’?” These questions are not answered; instead the audience can make up their own explanations, drawing on their own experiences. ‘The mother’ is played by a man, in this way we hope to encourage the audience to see this character in any number of ways. In other words, if it means more to you to think of them as a ‘father’ or ‘yourself’, if it’s too painful for you to think of them as a mother and/or if you keep changing your mind about who they remind you of, we hope to encourage your sense of freedom to do this character in any number of ways.
Research and Development
TRAPPED is commissioned by Hampshire Dance with the support of Creative Partnerships - Southampton and Isle of Wight
Ludus Dance, Touring Company creates work collaboratively where all the artists involved, work together as a group to research content, and to agree aims, themes, style and storyline. As with previous Ludus Dance shows, the creative team works closely with young people, to check that ideas are ‘on track’ for the target audience. Particularly important to the process is the Steering Group which, this time round, was made up of 14, Year 8 students from Redbridge Community School in Southampton. They had all been involved with the initial research process, then later came to Lancaster to watch rehearsals and a draft version of the performance, which we then changed in response to their vital feedback.
A TRAPPED residency includes:
- A unique, exciting high quality and accessible dance performance
- one-off thematic workshops related to the show
- Curtain raiser performance project
- Teacher, INSET
- Teachers Pack
- Professional class – participation or observation by arrangement
- Workshops for professional dance artists working in education
School Bookers
TRAPPED is designed to enhance the teaching and delivery of the PSHE and Citizenship curriculum in schools from Key Stages
2 to 4
The company offers 5 day residency packages to suit your needs.
You design we deliver!
'An exceptional education package'
Sarah Whiteford - Scottish Borders Council
Theatre Bookers
Accessible for first time dance audiences. Appealing to young people, teachers and parents as well as dance afficianados. With staging versions suitable for either school halls or fully equipped theatres, TRAPPED can be staged in a variety of performance venues. Please contact us for further information.
Contact Us
If you would like further information, or would just like to register your interest in the new production 'Trapped' then please complete this form below and your enquiry will be sent straight to Gil Graystone, Head of Touring at Ludus Dance. Alternatively you can call Gil direct on 01524 389901