At Brewery Arts, we aim to inspire people of all ages by opening doors to the arts and making them accessible to all. This year’s Community Dance Platform was a joyful celebration of creativity, movement, and togetherness.
55 performers, aged from just 9 months to 89 years, took to the stage – highlighting our commitment to inclusivity and lifelong creativity. The programme featured six live group performances and a screening of Moving With…, a short film by Lucy Nicholson.
From superheroes and Kate Bush to mother-daughter bonds, each piece reflected imagination, expression, and community spirit. We welcomed the majority of our in house groups to the stage, Stage Stars, Mature Movers, and Brewery Youth Dance groups, all performing pieces they had ownership over, and generating an atmosphere of belonging.
A standout moment was the premiere of Mother, Daughter, Dancer by HerKindled – a new collective of professional dance artists and their families. Created by Rachel Towe, Emily Davies, Kate Battersby, and Emily Baxter, the work explored the nuances of intergenerational relationships.
Inspired by real-life mother-daughter pairs (aged 9 months to 65), rehearsals were flexible and personal, often planned via WhatsApp. Each pair undertook creative tasks separately, before bringing material together for whole company rehearsals. Using different stimuli, for example, a piece of music personal to the duo, words to describe each other, and bringing their own movements, from crawling and lifting, to kitchen dancing.
“It was such a fulfilling project for me and resonated with the audience a lot.” – Rachel Towe
This year’s platform also featured exciting cross-artform collaborations:
Dance & Music – In partnership with producer Tiiva (via Arts Council DYCP funding), dancers explored the connection between sound and movement through collaborative workshops.
Dance & Visual Arts – Dancers worked with Helena McGregor and our Maker’s Club, using Keith Haring-inspired prints as inspiration. Live-drawn artworks were projected behind the dancers, bringing movement and visual art together on stage.
Reviews from the evening:
Performers:
“Enjoyed flying and superhero poses.” Stage Stars dancer
“Learning new moves and doing things we never expected.” Mature Movers dancer
“Brewery feels like an extension of my family.” BYD dancer
Audience:
“Such an inclusive event… HerKindled was magnificent.” BYD parent
“A fantastic show, as always.” Brian Slater, Photographer
We’re proud of everyone who took part and grateful to the artists, families, and audiences who made this year’s Platform such a success. Whether you’re new to dance or returning to the stage, we can’t wait to see you at the next celebration.
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