Feedback from parent #KickOffBoys Project

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Hi Chrisie, Dance Action Zone Leeds (Kick Off Boys Project) Just wanted to send you a bit of feedback- I hope you can use it for reports etc. ( I run an arts organisation myself and know how useful it is to have!) This morning, after last nights performance at NSCD,  I overheard Dylan  say, as he woke up and in a bright cheery voice: ‘Good morning world!’  A lovely positive start to the day and for Dylan  a massive turnaround for a boy who used to wake up angry (and quite often screaming) most mornings. Less than a year ago Dylan was seeing a counsellor through CAMHS and being part of Kick Off  Boys has massively helped him. He absolutely loves dancing and being able to use his huge amounts of energy in such a positive way has enabled him to feel so much more comfortable about himself and really helped to build his confidence. When he first started Kick Off Boys he was so thrilled and said it was the the start of his career and that he was in his first ‘company’! I am so very grateful that he has this opportunity as being part of the group is as important to him as the dancing and he loves to tell me stories about all the other boys in the group. He feels a sense of belonging and he thrives from the mix of ages and from being accepted by the older boys. I think it has helped him to feel that it’s ok not to be the same as everyone else. We are travelling to Leeds from Holmfirth twice a week so that Dylan can access The Kick Off Boys Project and the NSCD classes because it is so important for his well -being. It is a real shame that there is nothing closer to us as there must be so many other boys like Dylan who would benefit from these groups (and boys in Dylan’s school still think dancing is just for girls!). I do think it’s really important to get boys dancing before they leave primary education as I think the peer pressure and self-consciousness that comes with the teenage years must prevent so many boys from experiencing dance. Thank you again for offering this opportunity. We re so glad Dylan is involved! Kind Regards Chloe Chloe Williams, The Children’s Art School. Kick Off Boys Project is a partnership with Dance Action Zone Leeds, Phoenix Dance, Northern School and Leeds City College. 

DAZL team up with Anchor Care Homes in Leeds

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DAZL work with the elderly from the Anchor Trust Over the past few months DAZL has been delivering a dance program in partnership with the six Leeds based Anchor Care Homes. This project works with older people who are living with dementia headed up by the DAZL Dance Facilitator Amy Smith and Community Dance & Health Practitioner Stephen Johnson. Assisting these two artists have been the DAZL Dance and Health Officer Apprentice Harvey Pratt and DAZL Dance Leader Kaci Emmonds. The DAZL team have have absolutely loved working with the residents and the wonderful caring and supportive staff from the Anchor Trust. The residents have really responded well to the weekly dance for fun sessions and to date we have engaged around 120 older people throughout the six care home in Leeds. Moving forward DAZL plan to continue this partnership delivering dance and from January we plan on deliver an intergenaerational project with the older people from Anchor and young people from DAZL. This will will also be evaluated by Leeds Beckett University of which it will be published in a academic journal highlighting the impact dance has on dementia and older peoples overall health and wellbeing. Below is a statement from Jo Bailey, Anchor Wellbeing Coordinator  In later life, maintaining movement is key, and a huge part of wellbeing and healthcare.  However,  this is not always easy to achieve.  For people living with Dementia, it is the little things that count, or in the case of DAZL, the fun things. A bunch of enthusiastic, skilled, caring dancers, DAZL are an absolute joy.  The way they interact with the residents, we have found it is almost impossible to resist joining in, whether resident, carer or visitor alike. Having had the pleasure of their company for many visits now I can safely say that the impact they have had on our residents has been both positive and profound.  I returned to one home the day after  DAZL had visited and was greeted with conversations and smiles regarding the previous day’s events. Such recollections are, regrettably, rare so for the DAZL team to have achieved this was praise indeed. I would, without hesitation, recommend the concept and of course DAZL to other care homes or anyone who is living with Dementia or caring for somebody who is. Kind Regards – Jo Bailey, Wellness Coordinator Anchor For more information on the Anchor Trust please visit  https://www.anchor.org.uk/    Follow us on Social Media to keep up to date with this wonderful project.

DAZL Community Sessions

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DAZL Community flyers Please click on these links and open the flyers for our community sessions. You can simply click on and download the PDFs. Inner East Community Program DAZL Seacroft Streetdance Crew, Tuesday 5.15-6.15pm at Kentmere Community Centre DAZL Streetdance Crew, Tuesdays 6-8pm at CATCH DAZL Ebor Gardens Streetdance Crew, Wednesday 5-6pm, Ebor Gardens Community Centre DAZL Inspire Comp Teams, Gipton, Fridays DAZL East Leeds Community Dance Groups Inner South Community Program DAZL Diamonds and Boys Program, Monday at Tenants Hall (Middleton) and Thursday/ Saturdays at the South Leeds Youth Hub, (Belle Isle) DAZL Youth Dance Companies, Mondays at Tenants Hall, Middleton DAZL Xplode Cross Flatts Park, Beeston, Tuesday 4.30-5.30pm DAZL Inclusive Dance Group, Tuesday, 5-6.30pm, Middleton DAZL Xplode Cottingley, Wednesdays, 5-6pm DAZL Xplode Belle Isle, Saturdays at The Hub, 9.30-11am DAZL Inner South Leeds Community Dance Group Outer South Community Program DAZL OUTER SOUTH Community Dance Groups DAZL Tingley Dance Group, Mondays, 4.30-5.30pm DAZL at Thorpe Community Centre, Tuesday, 4-5pm DAZL Rothwell Dance Crew, Rothwell Scout Hut, Wednesday, 4-5pm DAZL Morley Streetdance Crew at Newlands Church, Wednesday 5.30-6.30pm West Leeds Community Program DAZL West Community Dance Groups DAZL Swinnow, Monday at Swinnow Community Centre 5-6.30pm DAZL Farnley Streetdance Crew at Hillsdie Hall, Mondays, 4-5.30pm DAZL Xplode Wortley at St Johns Church Hall, Wednesday, 4.45pm-6.45pm DAZL at Swallow Hill School, Wednesday, 5-6pm DAZL Bramley at Bramley Community Centre, Fridays, 4-6pm   Many of the session are supported by the local community committees Youth Activity Fund. #InnerSouth – Middleton Park Ward, Beeston & Holbeck, Hunslet & Riverside #OuterSouth – Morley, Tingley and Rothwell wards. #InnerEast – Gipton & Harehills Wards, Burmantoft Ward, Seacroft ward. #InnerWest -Bramley Ward #OuterWest -Farnley & Wortley ward.   You can follow us on social media for the latest projects and sessions in the various communities across the city. Twitter @DAZL_Leeds   Facbook – LIKE danceactionzoneleeds   Istagram @danceactionzoneleeds

DAZL, ACE & WATCH-It Partnership – Holiday Hunger Program

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DAZL, ACE and Watch-It Holiday Hunger Partnership supported by Leeds Community Foundation   What we did! We provided four activity camps one at Easter where we engaged 34 at the South Leeds Youth Hub in Belle Isle. We also deliver three summer camps across the City we tried to spread the provision across South, East and West Leeds to reach more children and to achieve the greatest impact. The first one in Gipton at Dame Fanny Waterman Centre where we engaged 20 children. The second camp was in Belle Isle at the South Leeds Youth Hub where we engaged 47 children and the final camp was in Swinnow at Swinnow Community Centre where we engaged with 40 children. In total we engaged 141 children of which 121 were free school meal children which is what was aimed to achieve. This was in partnership with ACE who is part of of Health For All Leeds who delivered the multi sports alongside DAZL who was delivering the dance, crafts and healthy eating. We also had watch-it children weigh management service who attend one day each week and also refereed children onto the activity. As an additional we engaged 21 looked after children and 2 children with a disability within the four activity camps which is great and fits with the DAZL ethos or reducing barriers for these groups/ individuals. The Impact We used dance, arts and sport to engage the young people addressing the need for exciting positive activities that children want to engage with. We also engaged 80% free school meal children and 20% look after children or children with a disability. 90% of the children also come from an area of deprivation therefore supporting those harder to reach families/ communities who have the greatest need. We provided activity from 8.30am-3pm Monday to Friday providing a cooked breakfast and dinner for the children along with snack. This really helps parents and gives them the assurance they will be fed, safe and have fun within the camp. Added value The young people have been able to access the DAZL community provision and also Active Clubs Experience Provision, those struggling to maintain a healthy weight also got information on Watch-It.   DAZL Created a film documenting the project with feedback from participants, partners and also staff showing the impact and the difference this camp. Video feedback from young people DAZL has the young people give video feedback and we have posted this via social media. We have obtained permission from parents to use all this in monitoring and evaluation. Madison Emmonds, Age 12 video feedback Aimee Mulvy, Age 13 video feedback Brandan Shaw, Age 10 video feedback Aiden Wood, Age 9 video feedback Add us on Social Media Twitter @DAZL_Leeds   Facbook – LIKE danceactionzoneleeds   Istagram @danceactionzoneleeds

Painted Faces Film by Kick Off Boys Project

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Painted Faces by Kick Off Boys Project This is a mental health awareness film created by the Kick Off Boys Project partnership which consists of Dance Action Zone Leeds (DAZL), Northern School Of Contemporary Dance, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Leeds City College. The mental health stigma workshops were delivered by Space 2 Leeds and film created by Wayne Sables and project funded by Big Lottery – Awards For All. Painted faces uses dance as a tool to enable young men to talk about mental health!   For help and support contact Mind Mate Leeds 0113 376 0324 To contact MindMate, email [email protected], Website – mindmate.org.uk/ Social Media @mindmateleeds Need urgent help? If you’ve injured yourself or taken an overdose dial 999. To speak to someone urgently, please call ChildLine free on 0800 11 11  

KICK OFF BOYS PROJECT – PROMO 2018

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Kick Off Boys Dance Project Kick Off Boys Project is a partnership project with Dance Action Zone Leeds (DAZL), Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Phoenix Dance Theatre and Leeds City College. Our focus is to bring together boys from across Leeds through dance to explore issues which relate to them. We aim to provide artistic opportunities and progression routes for boys in dance! Film filmed by Wayne Sables and Project supported by Awards for All (BIG lottery) the Anti-stigma workshop were delivered by Space 2 Leeds You can sign up for next term via our partners at Northern School Of Contemporary Dance here http://www.nscd.ac.uk/take-part/workshops/kick-off/  

DAZL Runs Marathon & Yorkshire 3 Peaks for Inclusive Group

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DAZL raise funds for Inclusive Dance Group DAZL team will be running the Liverpool Marathon & Walking the Yorkshire 3 Peaks to provide FREE provision and pay for our Inclusive Hip-Hop Team for young people with a disability to have dance experiences. The funds will provide the group with costumes, pay the hall hire & support weekly classes Need Their is a lack of activity for young people with a disability to take part in competitive dance, especially in urban dance styles in Leeds. Solution We will provide weekly activities for young people with a disability and ensure they get the experience of a dance competition. The same opportunities will be available to these young people just as they are for the young people who do not have a disability. The program will reduce inequalities, breakdown barriers and provide opportunities and aspirations for those young dancers with a disability. Aim Provide urban dance for young people with a disability from areas of deprivation across Leeds Activities » Provide weekly urban dance sessions with opportunities to perform locally and regionally including dance competitions.   Reporting We will report via social media also blogs via DAZL website and our partners ensuring we gain as much coverage as possible. We will also inform people/ supporters/ donors via our Mailchimp email system and publish the success in our annual review. Budget – Project Cost: £2,490   Amount Heading Description   £320 Competition Entry Frees 2 x competition entry for 10 dancers   £250 costumes 10 hip-hop costumes at £25 per person   £400 Hall Hire Hall Hire 40wk x 2hrs (£10 per session)   £320 Transport Transport to competitions (£160 x 2 journeys)   £800 Weekly Sessions deliver of weekly session £20 x 40wk   £400 Staffing Comp Staffing competition x 2 (£100 per day x 2 staff x 2 competitions) Why Us? With 18 years experience of improving the mental and physical health of children and young people aged 3 – 19 years, particularly girls, through dance as physical activity in disadvantaged communities of Leeds. We also reduce health inequalities, improving the health and wellbeing of children, young adults with disabilities up to 25 years, families and the wider community throughout Yorkshire through asset-based community dance and wider dance opportunities. This is why we are best placed. Donate to project via link below https://secure.thebiggive.org.uk/projects/view/29286/dazl-runs-marathon-and-3-peaks-for-inclusive-group/ Follows us on social media @DAZL_Leeds Twitter and Facebook DanceActionZoneLeeds

DAZL receive #HealthyHolidays grant from Leeds Community Foundation

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  Healthy Holidays – Holiday Hunger Fund DAZL is excited to announce we have received funding from the Leeds Community Foundation to enable vulnerable children to have access to food & fun activities in half term & summer. The young people will be provided with breakfast, Lunch and Snacks, this will be provided by FareShare you can visit their website http://fareshare.org.uk/ , This will be complemented with some fantastic fun activities. We will be using the hashtag #HolidayHungerLeeds to create awareness of the project and we will be working in partnership with our friends from Active Clubs Experience (ACE) The Change 4 Life Service (C4L) and Watch-It children weight management service, incorporating healthy lifestyles and Change 4 Life messages in fun, creative sessions for 4-13 year old children. Camp 1 (Tuesday 3rd- Friday 6th April 2018) – The South Leeds Youth Hub, Belle Isle, LS10 3JA. 9am-3pm each day and we have 25 places available. Camp 2 (Monday 30th July – Friday 3rd August 2018) – Dame Fanny Waterman Centre, Brander Street, Gipton, Leeds, LS9 6QH. 9am-3pm each day and we have 25 places available. Camp 3 (Monday 6th August – Friday 10th August 2018) – The South Leeds Youth Hub, Belle Isle, LS10 3JA. 9am-3pm each day and we have 25 places available. Camp 4 (Monday 13th August – Friday 17th August 2018) – Swinnow Community Centre,Swinnow Lane, Leeds LS13 4RF. 9am-3pm each day, 25 places available. Children can be dropped off from 8.30am is required.      

DAZL Youth Company perform #Faith Choreography by Rees Dance

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DAZL Youth Company premier #Faith The #YorkshireConnection project funded by Arts Council England’s Grants For The Arts have enable the DAZL Youth Dance Company to work with Rees Dance Company. They had the wonderful opportunity to perform this work at the Phoenix Dance Theatre Youth Platform on Friday 16th March (Stanley and Audrey Burton Theatre) and at the Norther School Of Contemporary Dance Community Platform on Saturday 17th March (Riley Theatre).   Thank you to both NSCD and Phoenix Dance Theatre for two wonderful experiences for the dancers, everyone had such a great time performing, meeting other groups from across Yorkshire. Here is some of the comments/ feedback… Its wonderful to see young dancers performing challenging choreography and rising the the challenge. Excellent… Beautifully performed by stunning young dancers… Great to see it being performed at The Riley Theatre NSCD…! You can watch the Saturday performance from NSCD Community Platform below. Social Media – Twitter @DAZL_Leeds  Facbook – LIKE danceactionzoneleeds or Istagram @danceactionzoneleeds

The Morrison’s Foundation support DAZL

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The Morrison’s Foundation support DAZL Health heARTS Project.   We are so grateful to have received support from The Morrison’s Foundation who support local charities making a positive difference in local communities across England, Scotland and Wales. DAZL has been awarded a grant for a health and wellbeing project “The DAZL Healthy heARTS Project”. The Project offers fun, relevant and accessible high quality dance and healthy eating opportunities. Targeted at disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people aged 3-25 years in Leeds 10 or close to the area of Morrison’s Hunslet store. Working within youth culture, starting with what young people, families enjoy. Also targeting children and families in deprived areas, who lack access to activities or are at risk of sedentary lifestyles. Using a community development methodology. Starting where the children and families are at! We have a commitment to supporting local people enabling and encouraging ownership and entrepreneurship. Parental involvement is a crucial feature of the project engaging the whole family to have the greatest impact to support a healthier lifestyle. The Program. We will deliver two dance and health eating project. They will both be a 12 week projects and in addition to this a one week school holiday activity program for children and families. We have a particular focus on looked After Children and those children who are struggling to maintain a healthy weight/ lifestyle. Digital resource and legacy of project. We will be working with the Wayne Sables Project to create a short film/ online resource addressing the themes of the project. This resource will be made avilable for groups to view and get inspiration to support their own health and wellbeing project. Thank you so much to the Morrison’s Foundation for their support. For more information on The Morrison’s Foundation visit https://www.morrisonsfoundation.com/about-us/ Social Media – Twitter @DAZL_Leeds  Facbook – LIKE danceactionzoneleeds or Istagram @danceactionzoneleeds