June 3, 2009
Creative collaboration across two communities
A group of young dancers and film makers from Wester Hailes and Pilton in Edinburgh have collaborated to produce a performance that was screened as part of the recent Film:Dance Festival ’09. With help from professional choreographers the short film – Pictures on Wax – will be shown alongside classic footage featuring Hollywood greats Astaire and Rogers
Twelve young people from Wester Hailes will have their first major dance film performance seen along side Hollywood greats Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as part of the DANCE:FILM 09 Festival.
The dance group, from Wester Hailes Education Centre, had only 3 short weeks with choreographers Allan Irvine, of Dance Base, and Pete Maniam in the lead up to the final filming event. Filming took place on a Saturday evening in Dance Base with a crew of young filmmakers from Pilton Video and specialist dance filmmakers, Cagoule Productions.
The group attended classes at Wester Hailes Education Centre and Dance Base led by Allan Irvine from the Dance Base Outreach team to work together to make this performance ready for screening.
The young people worked with Pilton Video and Dance Base to complete Pictures on Wax as part of the Cashback for Communities: Creative Identities initiative. Creative Identities is an 18-month programme of arts and moving image activities for young people funded by the Scottish Government using £1.2m from the proceeds of crime, managed in partnership with Scottish Screen and the Scottish Arts Council.
Minister for Culture Michael Russell said:
“It’s great to see such success growing from our Creative Identities initiative which allows young people to explore the arts and become involved in creativity. Widening access to culture and encouraging participation has a beneficial impact on our communities and this is a fine example of taking proceeds of crime and turning them into something positive. I am particularly excited to see this fusion of dance and film through Pictures in Wax, it will be a worthy addition to the Dance:Film 2009 Festival.”
Allan Irvine Youth Dance Worker said:
“I felt lucky to have this group of dancers for the project: they worked hard, were very open minded and were always willing to try new and different things. This attitude made the whole thing more successful. They were a lovely group and it was fantastic working with them”
Joel Venet, co-coordinator at Pilton Video explained the energy and commitment of both groups of young people from Wester Hailes Education Centre and Pilton Video:
“The kids worked really hard over three weeks doing the dance work with Dance Base; and then in five and a half hours, getting the film made and it really proved how inspired they all were to be involved in the creative process.
Janet Dick, Outreach Co-ordinator at Dance Base said
“The classes were scheduled as part of the school day with additional rehearsals at Dance Base on a public holiday and weekend – asking young people to give up their out of school time shows a very high degree of commitment! The end result is a very fine dance film which invited friends and family will be delighted and proud to see.”
Pictures on Wax will be screened as part of the Dance for Camera shorts programme at DANCE:FILM 09
Dance Base Outreach Programme and WHEC, in association with Pilton Video, presents
Dancers
Nicky Brunton
Alesha Carrer
Kelly Duke
Alice Gainford
Darryn Hbbangana
Jordan Hickey
Stacy MacKenzie
Kelly Moss
Nicolle Moran
Suzanne Norman
A.J. Stewart
Katelyn Walker
Dance Base Outreach Team
Janet Dick
Sandra George
Allan Irvine
Pete Maniam
Dawn-Claire Robertson
Pilton Video
Heather Bowry
Sean Begg
Andrew McDonald
Lucy McNally
Joel Venet
Sean Young
Music
Barney Strachan
DANCE:FILM
Steph Wright
Camera and Editing and Direction
Cagoule Productions (Abby Warrilow and Lewis Gourlay)
Special Thanks to Wester Hailes Education Centre ( W.H.E.C.) and especially Mairi Allison P.E. Dept.
DANCE:FILM 09 is a collaboration between Dance Base and Filmhouse and is supported by Scottish Screen