Young people create digital film inspired by Artes Mundi artwork around themes of protest and young people's voice.
National Dance Company Wales’ young Associates premiere their new digital film at the U Dance Cymru 2021 Digital Dance Day and on AM Cymru, which has been made in collaboration with Artes Mundi, and creatives from across the theatre and dance sector in Wales.
NDCWales’ Associates film, 'Now Begin' is one of the many performances young people will be able to see as part of the day long U Dance Cymru 2021 digital programme, organised by National Youth Dance Wales. The programme also includes workshops with Ballet Cymru, Zoo Nation, Company Chameleon, Candoco Dance Company and aspiring dance artists Antony Matsena and Layton Williams.
NDCWales’ Associates are a group of 18 young people aged between 13-18, who want to develop their dance skills and experience. Associates has been a platform for many previous Associates who have gone on to train in some of the UK’s leading dance and theatre schools and developed their careers in performance. Each year the Associates create a live performance working with choreographers and creatives to experience working with industry professionals.
Guy O’Donnell, NDCWales’ Learning and Participation Producer said, “We were really looking forward to creating a new piece in collaboration with Artes Mundi, which would have been a performance at the Artes Mundi at National Museum, Cardiff and at the Youth Dance Night event held each year at the Dance House. Fortunately, we were able to evolve and adapt this performance for online audiences, which has resulted with us working with some exciting creatives and now results in a special premiere for us at U Dance Cymru 2021.”
The Associates film, ‘Now Begin' is a reflective piece inspired by the current work at the Artes Mundi 9 exhibition by artist, Prabhakar Pachpute. The film showcases the young dance artists sharing their desires for change in the world. Inspired by Prabhakar Pachpute's exhibitions and the themes of protest, these dance artists share their vision for a new beginning through movement and voice.
Director of Artes Mundi, Nigel Prince said, “At Artes Mundi, we're keen to build relationships with that which is familiar and that which is distant. Our partnership with dancers of the National Dance Company Wales has been a delight and is one way in which we seek to achieve this, bringing work in Artes Mundi 9 into dialogue with other forms and conversations to create new ways of thinking and seeing.”
In early 2021, the Associates worked with Gundija Zandersona - Executive Director, Kokoro Arts,
Krystal S. Lowe, Artistic Director, Kokoro Arts, BAFTA awarding winning Sound Designer, Tic Ashfield and Cardiff filmmaker Gavin Porter to create the 5-minute film which includes short videos from each of the Associates dancing at home or in their community.
Associate, Heidi Thomas, said, “This creative process was very different and exciting because it was showing us different ways of showing dance and expressing art in different ways, so it was quite new and exciting to be a part of.”
“We worked collaboratively yet independently by ourselves, through these tough times we’ve been able to connect through the movement of dance,” said Associate, Ellie Gale.
‘Now Begin' by NDCWales Associates will be broadcast on Saturday 15 May as part of U Dance Cymru 2021. Tickets for the event are available via https://www.nyaw.org.uk/udance-day-of-dance-2021
‘Now Begin’ will be available to watch on AM Cymru from Saturday 15 May and available on ndcwales.co.uk website on Sunday 30 May.
NDCWales’ Associates meet weekly at the Dance House, Cardiff between September and April through workshops led by a team of NDCWales dancers and leading instructors in dance. Each year the Associates work towards creating a final performance. Applications are now open for the next cohort of young dancers to apply. Currently Associates meet online and will start back in the Dance House studios when it is safe to do so. The deadline for applications for Autumn 2021 to Spring 2022 term is 4 June 2021. Please visit www.ndcwales.co.uk for further information.