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Dynamic European dance project
gets the go-ahead
An exciting project that will link dance hubs, centres, artists and companies in Normandy and
Brittany with those in the south and west of England has been given the go ahead thanks to a
significant cash injection from European funding agency Interreg.
DanSCe Dialogues 2 is a two-year project, running until 2014, that will establish a crossborder partnership across eight centres to promote and support the work and growth of
contemporary dance artists and companies.
The partners are:
L’ODIA Normandie (Rouen and Caen, Normandy); The Point (Eastleigh); South East
Dance (Brighton and Hextable); Take Art (Somerset); Spectacle Vivant en Bretagne
(Rennes, Bretagne), Le Triangle (Rennes, Bretagne); Le Centre Choregraphique National
De Caen (Basse-Normandie); and Le Centre Choregraphique National Du Havre (HauteNormandie).
At the heart of DanSCe Dialogues 2 is the aim to stimulate artistic innovation and co-operation
within the art form of contemporary dance, specifically between the UK and France.
With more than £2.9 million (€3.5m) of investment from the Interreg IVA (Channel) FranceEngland programme, DanSCe Dialogues 2 will promote contemporary dance to new audiences.
Over the two years it will feature a host of cross-border initiatives including:
Research laboratories, providing artists and choreographers from Normandy, Brittany and the
south and west of England the opportunity to explore and develop practice
Cross-border Artists’ residencies, enabling artists and choreographers to share knowledge
UK touring of work from Normandy and Brittany
French touring of artists based in the South and West of England
Conferences across the partnership
Cross-Channel job shadowing opportunities
The creation of a unique Early Years’ project specifically designed to work across the
European partnership
Speaking about the project, Director Pierre-Yves Charlois from lead French partner L’ODIA
Normandie said: “DanSCe Dialogues 2 is an incredible chance for all dance professionals, both
sides of the Channel, to have the time and opportunity to explore the whole experimentation,
training, creation and touring process within a fair and reciprocal French-English partnership.”
Sacha Lee, Creative Producer at The Point, said: “We are delighted to be part of this crossChannel collaborative project, which enables The Point and our other UK partners to plug into
some innovative and exciting dance activity. Ranging from presenting new work from an eclectic
range of artists, to understanding how culture industry works in France. We will look forward to
both welcoming French artists to our Creation Space as much as we will enjoy sending our own
artists off to France. This is a unique opportunity to unlock geographical boundaries and provide
a dynamic and fluid network for both artist and cultural players.”
Cath James, Co-Director of Dance at Take Art, said: “Take Art are very pleased to be a
partner in what is a major two-year programme of dance sector development not only aimed at
artists, promoters and producers, but to really accomplish mutual learning across borders. To
learn about each other's different methods of creation, support, development and touring is an
opportunity to increase our understanding and appreciation of the different ways the French and
UK work within the arts. We look forward to bringing some exciting and innovative work into
Somerset and the wider South East and West of the UK, and sending our extraordinary artists
across the channel, as well as developing and celebrating contemporary dance in all its forms.”
Jamie Watton, CEO/Artistic Director of South East Dance, said: “South East Dance is
delighted to be part of DanSCe Dialogues 2. The project presents us with fantastic opportunities
to explore artistic exchange by transcending boundaries, both geographical and cultural. We
look forward to working with our closest neighbours on both sides of the Channel, and to
utilising our common language – the passion to create and present exceptional dance.”
Notes to editors
Take Art is a pioneering arts charity serving the towns, villages and rural communities of
Somerset. We do this by providing opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to
experience, participate and work within the arts. Take Art Dance is the county dance agency,
and provides year-round opportunities for people to see and take part in inspiring and
accessible dance activity in Somerset. Take Art is an Arts Council England National Portfolio
Organisation, and is also funded by South Somerset District Council, Sedgemoor District
Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council.
The Point is one of the south’s leading venues for contemporary performance. Home to the
UK’s first fully residential Creation Space, the venue in Eastleigh has positioned itself as an
international hub for the development of artists. Its professional programme combines work
created in its space with ground-breaking contemporary theatre and dance. Its Associate Artists
scheme is an example of best practice, supporting graduate and emerging companies and
performers to create risk-taking new work as well as sustainable careers. Its multi arts Creative
Learning programme engages with thousands of community members each year. Owned and
managed by Eastleigh Borough Council, The Point was established in 1996 with one of the first
lottery grants and has always had a strong emphasis on innovation and creative challenge. It is
funded by Eastleigh Borough Council, Arts Council England, The Linbury Trust, the University of
Winchester and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
South East Dance is the national dance development organisation in South East England. Our
mission is to ensure a thriving ecology for dance in the South East, enhancing conditions for
more, bolder and better dance. We aim to raise the profile of dance and work with partners
within and beyond the region to achieve this. Artists and audiences are at the heart of all we do.
We listen to, challenge and champion their needs and aspirations.
L’ODIA Normandie is the lead partner of the project. The role of ODIANormandie is to assist
performing arts professionals who are developing their activities in Normandy, through
increased circulation of qualitative performing arts productions and to reinforce the qualification
of the entire professional sector. Its specialisms are theatre, classical and contemporary music,
circus, street art and dance.
Spectacle vivant en Bretagne aims to support the artistic sector, projects and artistic
enterprises located in the Bretagne Region. This agency works across all performing art forms
and aesthetics, and focuses on the needs of the territory’s actors, public policies set by local
authorities and the socio economic context. This organisation is financed by the Conseil
Regional de Bretagne and by the State.
Les Centres Chorégraphiques Nationaux (CCN) is a pool of choreographic centres, focused
on the support and training of choreographers. Co financed by the State and local authorities,
the centres deliver a significant policy relating to the creation of performing arts, training, raising
awareness, touring of the choreographic creations and the classical “repertoire”. The CNN
centres are development hubs for dance. Their remit is to establish and maintain coverage of
the territory. The national choreographic centre of Caen in lower Normandy and the Phare,
national choreographic centre of Le Havre Higher Normandy were financial partners of DanSCe
Dialogues 1 and again for DanSCe Dialogues 2.
Le Triangle, cité de la danse showcases choreographic works and also sponsors artistic
creation. This venue organises readings, artists’ residencies, art exhibitions, artistic workshops
(dance, music, contemporary art, etc…). Based in an urban sensitive zone, the venue has
developed a strong cultural activity with the local communities. The venue is also let for private
purposes (congresses, seminars). Le triangle is financed by the town of Rennes, the DRAC
Bretagne (Ministry of Culture and Communication), le conseil regional de Bretagne et le Conseil
Général d’Ille et Vilaine.
For more details about DanSCe Dialogues 2 contact:
Louise Monks, Communications, Take Art. Louise@takeart.org TEL: 01460 249 450