Beingfrank Youth are going for strength to strength….

We’ve been working with them for over 2 years now developing boys dance in Warwickshire. posted below is the result of a successful Youth Opportunities bid that enabled them to make a new piece of work to tour. The new work will be featured as part of the U:dance showcase and BDE at dance exchange - but here a sneak preview of the lads in action ……. enjoy the show…………….

This video is of the Dance group “Beingfrank Youth- Deja vu”. The footage is of them auditioning for U:Dance which is a nationwide programme aiming to give every child and young person in England the opportunity to take part in a dance performance each year. U.Dance currently has approximately 39,767 children and young people from over 1,253 schools, taking part in over 198 dance performances across the country. The boys took their audition in Stoke and they were accepted and pleased the pannel of judges. Now the boys will represent U:Dance across the contry performing pieces of dance in all different locations in the UK.

1) Warwickshire Artsweek

WARWICKSHIRE ARTSWEEK 2010

3 – 18 JULY

CALLING ALL ARTISTS AND MAKERS!

Yes – it’s that time of the year again when we start to plan ahead for Artsweek 2010.

Area Meetings:

Leamington/Warwick Area

NOV 11th  @ 6.30pm

Pump Rooms Annexe, Leamington.

Stratford on Avon  Area

NOV 4th @ 6.30pm

Gallery at Leisure Centre

Stratford on Avon

North Warwickshire Area

NOV 11th @ 7.30pm

Acorn Pub, Horeston Grange, Nuneaton.

Rugby Area.

NOV 17th @ 6.30pm to 8pm

Rugby Art Gallery (main gallery)

Details of Area Co-ordinators and other contacts will be available at

the meetings.

http://www.warwickshireartsweek.co.uk/

Dear all,

Please find below the latest monthly update from Paul Kaynes, regarding the Culture Programme for London 2012 in the region.

Regards,

Tom.

1.   Open weekend 2010: the dates for next year’s Open weekend have been confirmed as 23-5 July 2010. Online registration isn’t open as yet (it will open early in the New Year) but we’d like to encourage cultural organisations and local authorities to start planning events which can take place over the weekend. We’re looking for events which respond in some way to being part of the London 2012 Games programme – existing events which augment or develop their programme to reflect the Open weekend, or events staged specially to coincide with the weekend. Please e-mail me with any ideas or plans you may have, and disseminate this date widely amongst your networks. More news in the next few months as themes are confirmed and registration opens.

2.   Artists Taking the Lead: as you may have seen, the winning commission for our regional Artists Taking the Lead project is Imagineer’s amazing Godiva Awakes which will see a massive puppet of Godiva made by artists together with the people of the West Midlands travel to London for the Games in 2012. The programme includes a major event in Coventry as Godiva awakes from her slumbers, then celebrates her journey powered by several cyclists. You can find out more about the plans here: http://www.imagineerproductions.co.uk/projects/current.

3.   Discovering Places: one of the Cultural Olympiad’s major national projects, Discovering Places held its regional meeting in October. The programme aims to connect young people to some of our nation’s hidden gems - historic and contemporary buildings, public spaces and natural places. The attached document provides more information – and the first manifestation of this exciting programme is next May Day bank holiday weekend (1-3 May 2010) when there will be a weekend of activities across the country to connect people to their local natural environments. The programme is led by Heritage Link (http://www.heritagelink.org.uk) and there will be the chance to sign up in the New Year. Please pass on this information to interested colleagues.

4.   Community Games: following this summer’s pilot games, the Legacy Trust team in the region based here at the Arts Council will shortly be announcing tendering opportunities for organisations that wish to deliver any or all of the toolkit, training and advocacy programmes for the Games. The tenders will be announced at the end of November or early December with the aim of commissioning the work early in 2010.

5.   Inspire mark applications: the way to become part of the Cultural Olympiad is to apply for the Inspire mark to be used in association with a programme or activity which reflects the inspiration of London 2012 and the three core values of welcoming the world, inspiring young people and leaving a positive legacy. Applying for an Inspire mark is straightforward and can be processed very quickly and brings many communications and profile benefits – if you have a programme or event which you think might qualify, speak to me.

6.   Contacts: should you need to contact us

Naomi Temple, WM Legacy Trust Programme Manager: naomi.temple@artscouncil.org.uk

Clare Tougher: WM Legacy Trust Programme Assistant (p-t, Mon-Wed): clare.tougher@artscouncil.org.uk

Sue Elwell: Assistant to WM Culture Programme (p-t, Wed-Fri): sue.elwell@artscouncil.org.uk

Helen Annetts: External PR support for WM Culture Programme: helenlannetts@hotmail.co.uk

Lauren Amery: Cultural Research Analyst: lauren.amery@wmro.org

Paul Kaynes, WM Creative Programmer: paul.kaynes@artscouncil.org.uk or paul.kaynes@london2012.com.

Regards,

Paul

Paul Kaynes

West Midlands Creative Programmer, London 2012

Arts Council England, West Midlands

82 Granville Street, Birmingham B1 2LH

Direct Line: 0121 631 5724

Mobile: 07545 421725

Email: paul.kaynes@artscouncil.org.uk

Hello All

I am on my Work Experience with Clare Mitchell at the Warwickshire County Council Youth Service.

On the 19th January I went to visit Bedworth Youth Centre where two dance teachers Johnny and Louis were helping young people to get involved with a dance style they probably have never tried before. They were teaching a mix of street/contempory. Louis was mainly teaching the street dance and Johnny was teaching the contemproary side of the dance which seemed to go down well with all those taking part. Although the turn out was not huge the people that were involved seemed to really enjoy themselves and over the space of the night they had improved a considerable amount. I think that if more people had got involved then we would of had a brilliant dance routine that everyone could have followed no-matter what their ability, and for a added advantage we got to see Louis do his back-flips and front flips across the room which everyone enjoyed watching. Well done Louis and Johnny for a great night!

Joe Malin

Fever Media are currently working on an exciting new primetime dance series for the BBC and are looking for dancers to come forward and get involved. A homage to Michael Jackson, Move Like Michael (working title) will be a massive nationwide dance competition to find the person who best embodies the spirit of Michael Jackson on stage.

The competition will be open to everyone, and they are very eager to hear from solo, duo and groups acts who perform different styles of dance. From line dancers who can moonwalk, bhangra dancers who have mastered the MJ spin or salsa dancers who can also Beat It, if they can embrace his moves, his style, his magnetism on stage or his sheer power to entertain in their routine they want to hear from them. Anyone can enter, no matter what their technical ability, so long as they want to have some fun and want to try and move like Michael.

Fever Media will be holding nationwide auditions around the country over the next few months. If you are interested in attending an audition, email

Dance@fevermedia.co.uk or call 0207 428 4632. You can also visit the website for an application form: www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours

Education Arts Service West Midlands, the region’s new online resource for the arts in education has launched! 

www.easwestmidlands.org.uk is an exciting new resource for the West Midlands region designed to support educators in both formal and informal settings, artists, arts and cultural organisations in all arts education work. We have been working hard to create this extensive resource and will continue to develop further features and new content areas.

The website’s key resource is the searchable Arts Directory, where educators and youth practitioners can search for arts partners - all of whom carry current CRB disclosure checks and references. You will find practical support on setting up and delivering projects, regular news bulletins and a range of interactive features enabling users to comment and discuss issues, review projects, submit case studies, highlight best practice and advertise opportunities.

To find out more about how the service can support your work visit www.easwestmidlands.org.uk. Please help us to create a vibrant and supportive online arts education community by registering with the service and spreading the word within your networks.

BBC Blast and The Poetry Society have partnered up to bring you this year’s SLAMbassadors competition. Six winners will be invited to a two day masterclass event to be held in London with leading UK poets. The winners will also get the chance to show their skills at a live slam poetry event and perform alongside professional poets including Scroobius Pip and Benjamin Zephaniah!

Write an original piece (poem or rap) on the theme of identity and win the chance to perform at a live slam poetry event. Record your original track in less than 60 seconds and upload to our showcase now!

HOW TO ENTER

If you are 13-19 and want to enter the competition send us an audio or video recording of yourself performing your original verse as a rap, song or spoken word in 60 seconds or less.

For more information on Slam and a further workshop not on the Blast tour, find out more on The Poetry Society’s SLAMbassadors UK website.

YOU CAN ENTER BY:

1. Uploading your entry to BBC Blast website and tagging it ’slam09′.
2. Email your entry to blast@bbc.co.uk with your name, age and email address and put ‘SLAMbassadors Competition’ in the subject line.
3. Send by post with details of name, age and email address to: ‘SLAMbassadors Competition’, BBC Blast Online, MC3 D2, 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TS.

Deadline: 27 September 2009

YouthNet’s do-it site is inviting nominations for its Young Achievers Awards.  These awards recognise inspirational and successful 16-25 year old volunteers, campaigners and social entrepreneurs.

Fifty six volunteers will receive an award, which will include cash prizes for personal and project development, support in their work, and an RSA fellowship.

Follow the link to find out how to nominate:

www.do-it.org.uk/magazine/features/miscellaneous/youngachievers

Ed Balls – Secretary of State for Children Schools and Families – has announced details of exciting plans for the academic year 2009-2010. A national year of celebrating music will commence in September 2009, encompassing unprecedented opportunities for children and young people across the country to participate in a range of music-related activities.

www.youthmusic.org.uk/news/dcsf-announces-national-year-of-music-celebration.html

Internationally recognised musician Goldie lends a hand to recruit social workers. Having been in care himself he knows first hand the impact good social workers can have on the lives of young people… see the interview and short films by clicking on the links below …

FOR MORE INFO VISIT - http://www.helpgivethemavoice.com/help-give-them-a-voice/