Crossings will be the title of the piece that myself and our youth dance team are due to make with 2 SEN schools in North Wales this June.  We are going out to create a new dance piece inspired by the Dee Estuary performed at Clywd Theatre Cymru on Thursday 27 June, the schools will also be joined by Cando2 and emerging Candoco Artists Kimberley and Anna.

We are really looking forward to working with teachers, students and local dance artists from NEW Dance and the excellent teams at Flint County Council and Clywd.  It’s a privilege we are aware of at Candoco, to work with young creatives, introducing them and the leaders in their worlds to dance – what it can offer as a tool for communication, understanding and community.

Mirjam, Vicky and myself were reminded of this recently when we crossed the channel to Heilbronn in South Germany to work with students in a school for deaf and hearing impaired people and a mainstream school, to create a performance – Of Building Houses and the Dandelion – for a theatre foyer space as part of Tanz! Heilbronn.  We had an incredible experience with staff and students and hope very much that we will be crossing the channel to work with them again.

I’m currently on the other side of the Irish Sea, doing some independent research, but Candoco and all these journeys are very much in my mind.

Luke