Through various workshops and activities, NEXUS creates the space for young people to connect with themselves, their ideas and with others, through dance. Find out more about each one below!
NEXUS is a five-year programme funded by the Westminster Foundation. Find out more about their incredible work here.
Look out for the NEXUS logo for regular updates across Cheshire Dance channels.
Ancora Dance – Ancora House Countess of Chester and Castle Park
Ancora House School is primarily a medical pupil referral provision based on two sites in Cheshire West and Chester. The hospital site is based at Ancora House, an adolescent mental health inpatient unit, on the Countess of Chester Health Park, and provides education for inpatients at the unit. The NEXUS programme worked with young people onsite to create an open invitation for creativity with a focus on poetry and movement, bringing together Dance Artist, Josie Hepplewhite and Spoken Word Artist, Flick Barry to deliver a series of workshops in the unit.
Ancora Dance also has been happening at Ancora House School’s community site based at Castle Park House, Castle Park, Frodsham. It is commissioned to provide education for young people, who for a range of reasons, are currently unable to access their home school. The NEXUS programme delivered a series of 1 to 1 sessions for young people who have had a range a previous dance experiences. These sessions focussed on the young people having a creative outlet, allowing their voices to be heard and developing new skills. Working with dance artist Rachel Gittins, the young people found new ways to express themselves which benefitted both their mental and physical health.
Step into Capoeira- Theatre Porto
Step into Capoeira is a session for 7 to 11 year olds that are home educated. This session allows the young people to learn a new skill and movement style, develop knowledge of Brazilian culture and connect as a group.
NEXUS Youth Panel – Storyhouse.
The NEXUS youth panel is a small group of young people aged 14 to 21, who meet monthly to help shape the future of NEXUS. There are opportunities to learn more about working in the arts, take part in workshops with industry professionals and take part in a mentoring programme to develop your own aspirations and ideas. The group meets to discuss ideas and develop what the programme might look like in the future.
To apply to be part of the NEXUS youth panel please email emma@cheshiredance.org.
REWIND – Theatre in the Quarter (Funders Earl of Chester)
Rewind, delivered by Theatre in the Quarter and Cheshire Dance, is an exciting theatre and movement company for young people in the Blacon area of the city. Rewind brings together young people to create new pieces of theatre, music and dance. The children, drawn from five schools in Blacon, join to create a storyline and lyrics for the piece, which culminates in a unique performance.
The show is entitled ‘The Outside World’ and explores the effect of AI on our world. Students from Blacon High School have taken part in some song writing and an aspirational dance element. The Primary students have created the story, developed the movements and helped write the rest of the songs. The show will be performed in a mini tour back to the four Primary Schools and at Storyhouse, Chester, in March.
