The Venues

This week I’ve been to Cardiff to explore the venues hosting People Dancing. I wanted to walk in the footsteps of a delegate, right from arriving at London Paddington and hopping onto the Cardiff bound train.

First stop once we’ve pulled into Cardiff Central station, the National Museum of Wales. I’m told there will be folk from People Dancing meeting and greeting at the station: look out for them and say hello! When you enter the Grand Hall, it’s like stepping inside a palace! Think elegant banquets - classical and steeped with atmosphere. We can look forward to an evening of mixing and mingling there on Thursday. Better still, the Welsh National Folk Dance Society will be hosting a traditional Welsh Ceilidh. Don’t worry if you’re new to this - there will be a caller to guide us through.

After calling Dragon Taxi’s (don’t forget to use them, they know to expect us), we dash out in the rain and into the car to hit our next location, the Senedd.

I’m told it is pronounced as Senn-eth, any Welsh speakers out there please correct me if I’m wrong. It’s the home of The National Assembly for Wales which is the democratically elected body that represents the interests of Wales, and its people. Laws are made there, and it holds the Welsh Government to account.

After a quick bag check , you’ll be able to roam around inside the Senedd. Head up the stairs and look down through the glass floor where you can see people hard at work. Architecturally, the building is a mix of textures and colours. You can pick up information on the building once you’re inside. Lunch will he hosted here on Friday, so a great chance to network and enjoy such a landmark building.

After admiring the sea view, just around the corner is the Wales Millennium Centre. It’s an distinctive building with a huge bronze shell. The architects brief was to create a centre unmistakably Welsh and internationally outstanding. They say Wales’s identity is conveyed through the materials used to build the Centre, and that they connect to its culture, landscape, and history. There is a striking bilingual inscription on the Centre’s exterior, written by poet Gwyneth Lewis; more online if you’re interested.

There will do so much going on in the building’s various meeting rooms and spaces - sessions, performances, discussions and workshops. If you’re unsure, head to the People Dancing information desk at the main entrance, or grab someone wearing a blue People Dancing hoody.

Be sure to swing by the Glanfa stage at some point.  Its right next to the café’s so you can enjoy refreshments whilst watching groups from Wales and the local area who are performing throughout the day.

Oh and of course, there’s Hoddinott Hall – the 349 part tiered studio of BBC National Orchestra of Wales! Yes -  it is as impressive as it sounds. You’ll be able to access the Hall by the stairs ahead of you once you’ve entered the Wales Millennium Centre.

If this seems like alot to read, watch this space. I took lots of videos whilst in Cardiff, and will be collating them into a video to share on my blog very soon!

5 weeks to go...

In my recent trip to the FCD offices in Leicester, anticipation is building with only 5 weeks to go, and the FCD’s producer Richard is busy organising audio cables and cameras for the multitude of sessions available over the three days. Whilst admiring the list of keynote speakers and performers stuck on the wall, I’m curious to know a bit more about the origins of the event, and what the main aim is.

FCD have developed People Dancing around three ideas; discussion, workshops and performances and in doing so encompasses a number of settings in which dance takes place across the globe. As far as I’m aware, there hasn’t been a platform for participatory sharing for over 10 years, so this is going to be a momentous event.

So why Cardiff? I get the impression Cardiff is a place that really has community dance at its heart. Rubicon is the community dance development organisation for Cardiff and Newport and was one of the first of its kind in the UK. Additionally Dawns Powys Dance, NEW Dance, TAN Dance and Dawns I Bawb are all organisations that advocate the core values of community dance, and principally are about PEOPLE and PARTICIPATION which we can all be passionate about. So, holding the event here seems only fitting, and thankfully the city has enough space to accommodate us all.

 I see the event starting a global conversation using the international language of Dance. Artists, leaders and teachers from all over the world will share knowledge, skills and experiences through doing, watching, listening and talking about dance. Everyone’s contribution is welcome, and in my opinion, the more we share ideas, the richer our dance experience and voice can become.

The difficulty  is in choosing which sessions to go to.  Book now to avoid being disappointed! You can choose your sessions online using the link below.

 

http://www.communitydance.org.uk/international-event-2014/prices-and-booking/choose-your-sessions.html

Introductions, please

Introductions, please.

As newly appointed blogger, my task is to be the eyes and ears in Cardiff, sharing with you a behind- the -scenes peep at People Dancing, the Foundation for Community Dance’s international sharing platform happening in Cardiff during November.

This exciting international event is aimed at anyone working in dance and world-class artists, teachers and leaders will come together for an innovative and energising programme of presentations, workshops and performances. It promises to be enthralling so keep reading!

If you’re a fellow dance professional, teacher, leader or dance enthusiast, I hope to share with you what’s going on in the build up to event, what the event is really all about, and what you can expect from a delegate’s point of view.