Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire
We've been working with boys and young men in schools and youth centres since 2006, creating live performances and dance films. In February 2014, 20 groups of dancers will be joining together to make one giant performance in our concert hall at Warwick Arts Centre. There will be over 200 boys dancing to a live DJ plus music composed for the show.
Project Updates:
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Vote Boys Dancing!
We are very pleased to announce that Boys Dancing has been chosen as a finalist for the National Lottery Awards 2014!
The awards recognise the difference that Lottery-funded projects make to people, places and communities across the UK, and Boys Dancing is in the running for the Best Arts Project award.
You only need to look at the Stories section and the testimonials that pop up across this site to see the impact the project has made in the lives of the boys and men, teachers, parents and communities involved, so we truly believe that Boys Dancing is worthy of winning this prestigious award.
Help us win
In order to win, we need your votes! The project with the most votes will be announced as the winner in September, so please click the voting button below, which will take you through to the Awards website where you can vote and help us win:
Thank you!
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Boys Dancing class of 2013-2014, take a bow!
The moment you've all been waiting for…
All films from Boys Dancing 2013-2014 projects are now online and available to view in the Gallery section of this site, along with images.
Shropshire's Manitou legacy >>
Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire's Artful Dodgers performance >>
Sandwell's Boys Dancing performance >>
Dudley's I performance >>
Worcestershire's Our Brave Sons performance >>
Staffordshire's White Feathers performance >>We hope you enjoy this amazing record of the fantastic achievements of all the boys, artists, teachers and everyone involved.
Well done, Boys Dancing class of 2013-2014!
If you enjoyed your time with Boys Dancing, we'd love it if you would take a moment to vote for us in the National Lottery Awards. Boys Dancing is up for Best Arts Project. Click on the vote button above or go to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/project/boys-dancing to vote for Boys Dancing.
Thank you! -
A look back at 'Artful Dodgers' in pictures
So now that the dust has settled on last months performance of 'Artful Dodgers' I wanted to share some of the behind the scenes images that I took during the rehearsals for the show. There's always a lot of physical hard work that goes into producing a Boys Dancing show but there's just as much to develop how these young men relate to each other so I've tried to capture a sense of both of those in the images. There's also a few of Dave teaching (he came into one of my rehearsals with Alice Stevens Special School and it wouldn't have been fair for him just to watch so we got him up to show the boys how to perform an L kick!) and some of Simon, Benji, Jonny and Thato (I've known Thato for a few years and the rest since their early teens and it's been great to watch them grow into the dancers that they are today).
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@BoysDancing apprentices all passed Foundation Course in Laban based Creative Dance with TOP MARKS!!!! pic.twitter.com/jeCaOaw6J9
By @labaninfo
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“A boy who was disengaged at school has become very focussed on dance, but also more motivated in his school work. He has taken up ballet and wants to pursue a career in dance, seeing the dance artist he worked with as a real role model."
Teacher
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Thato Picks up the Pace at Trinity Laban
Boys Dancing apprentice Thato Malebye recently attended Trinity Laban's 'Pick up the Pace Revisited', a day of dance activity which celebrates 10 years of male dance community participation programmes, and featured films, performances by male dance groups from around the UK and workshops for young men.
Here's Thato's blog of his experiences at Pick up the Pace:
"Around 9:00 a.m. I hear music from Dave McKenna's car as he parks outside my house to pick me up. I think to myself he's early or maybe I'm running late, but either way I'm not quite ready. So once again I'm off to my usual rushed start to the day, frantically trying to make sure I have everything. I finally get myself together and we get on the way. Weather is nice and Dave and myself always find plenty to talk about so the 3 hour long journey flies by.
"Just gone 12:00pm when we arrive at Trinity Laban. As soon as we enter the building we can feel the vibrance in the atmosphere. The sounds of mumbling voices fills the background. There are boys and young men heading to the cafe for lunch after the morning dance workshops with smiles on their faces. Various all-male dance pieces are being projected on screens in the foyer.
"We get ourselves signed in, get our maps of the building and schedule for the day then we are let loose to explore. Our first stop was the cafe for some lunch. We'd barely sat down to eat before somebody recognises Dave and just like that, we switch to work mode; discussing projects, funding and various other things relating to boys dancing. Then it's off the feedback room where I'm instantly asked to be on camera discussing the obstacles that impede boys from dancing, as well as the benefits of having days like these, which cater dance specifically to boys. I must say I felt like I rocked that interview! Then it was off to the studio theatre to watch a few performances. John Ross Company took to the stage and blew us away. The piece was about a boys night out! It was very cleverly choreographed as a retrospective look at the events that led up to the groups opening pose. The seamless and creative use of humour while staying very true to the antics that can be observed during some boys' real-life nights out was incredible.
"As the piece finished it was time for my first class, Contemporary, with Will. This was my first ever purely contemporary class although nothing we did was completely new to me I really enjoyed myself. The atmosphere in the room was very laid back yet challenging. It felt like we had all known each other for sometime.
"Then after a 15 minute break, a workshop with members of Frantic Assembly. Really fun and simple cardiovascular warm up followed by an exercise that challenged the mind and body which gave me ideas for the work I do for Boys Dancing. We worked on some lifts then did some creative exercises focusing on a pedestrian approach to movement, which I really enjoyed.
"Then it was time for the Q&A with our panel of professional male artists, to which Dave and myself were late due to some reason I can't quite remember. The discussion included topics such as going into the profession world, best single advice to give to a young dancer, whether geographical learning environment affects future prospects and many more.
"We had some drinks and snacks at the pre-show drinks reception then made our way to the theatre. The event was brought to a close by performances from various all-male groups of different style and ages. My favourite of which was Edge FWD from Edge Hill University. The piece was dynamic, creative, humorous, very well thought out and put together. Great choreography and a well executed performance. Before I knew it, it was time to go home.
"Pick up the Pace was a great event. One I am very glad I went to, and an experience that will stay with me for some time. I really would encourage other young dancers to go to the event in years to come."