*Photo credits: Tina Frances Photography
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This Is Us gives everyone access to the arts and allows them to express themselves. In doing this, everyone is able to be seen, heard and belong." WHO ARE THIS IS US DANCE?"This Is Us Dance Company" are an inclusive company, based at
Bishops Down Primary School in Kent. We have been going for 4 years and run in association with
Stopgap Dance Company as one of their IRIS syllabus youth groups. This is a specialised inclusive syllabus to allow our dancers to work towards an end goal as well as developing their dance and social skills.
Our inclusive class is open to anybody who loves or wants to dance and be creative. We are delighted to have formed a well established group of dancers and over time we have seen them flourish and grow from strength to strength.
At ‘This Is Us’, we work very hard throughout each session to make sure all children are growing in confidence, independence and have the opportunity to be themselves.
Our Company is filled with young, excitable and creative dancers! We range from the age of 8 - 14 years. We are lucky enough to have an amazing team of support staff, a fantastic choreographic assistant and wonderful senior dancers who help and support the younger company members.Throughout the year, This Is Us are involved in various performances locally and further afield. We have performed in theatres, at festivals, outdoors and have even explored dance for camera. We support each other, watch each other grow and love developing our creative voices in a safe environment.
HOW WILL YOUR FUNDRAISING HELP US?
All fundraising activities will allow us to continue our journey in providing our dancers a space to be nurtured, a platform to perform and a canvas for them to create and develop their ideas. Our aim is to expand our company so that young dancers can be with us from a young age through to adult hood. We can work with them to develop and nurture their creative skills as they grow and continue to offer them a number of exciting opportunities. Our funding allows us to offer dancers opportunities at very little cost to their families. We cover transport, costumes, uniform, equipment, performance opportunities and in some cases fee's. This is a company for every child to feel free, creative and open. There is no right or wrong - we truly believe in embracing creativity and emotion, allowing this to be the driving force behind our work.
A MAGICAL MOMENT:When one of our students articulated how he was really feeling and what dance meant to him, he opened our eyes to the difference dance can make, as well as reducing us and the support staff to tears…
"The dancing has always been in us… we just needed someone to bring it out." We hope to continue to offer children a platform to perform, a space to spin and company to communicate with for years to come.
Our vision is to continue sharing the importance of this very resonant statement which is:
“Diversity is being invited to the party; but Inclusion is being asked to dance.”- Verna Myers
