We are delighted to announce that the DAZL Senior Dance Company were chosen to perform at FRESH 17 an amazing platform that celebrates the talent and potential of young people in dance across Yorkshire. The regional platform which is being held at the West Yorkshire Playhouse on Saturday 1st April. This is a brilliant opportunity for our young people to experience performing in an established theatre like WYP. Our piece of work PRIDE will be performed along side 11 other youth groups from across Yorkshire. They will be competing for a place to represent Yorkshire in a national platform called U.Dance which brings together youth groups from across the country, fingers crossed! If you would like to come watch the platform and support not just DAZL but all the young people who are involved in FRESH 17, tickets are available from the WY Playhouse website, link below https://www.wyp.org.uk/events/fresh-2017/
BEST FOOT FORWARD – DAZL featured in Independant Leeds Paper
Please click on link here http://www.independentleeds.co.uk/blog/best-foot-forward-dance-action-zone-leeds/ Taken from Independent Leeds Blog Words: Rosie Ramsden Images: Buttercrumble (@buttercrumblecreative) When I think back to my days as a greasy-skinned youth growing up in the suburbs of Lincolnshire, I often wish I could have been part of a community of young people that allowed me to blossom freely. I wish I could have been taken under a wing other than that of the tawny owl leader of our local Brownies group, who scorned my Bart Simpson t-shirt, and couldn’t understand the discomfort I felt in being made to wear that lurid brown skirt. Maybe if I’d found such an environment I’d have been a confident, happy and healthy teen far earlier. Luckily, Leeds’ young people have a plethora of community groups at hand to help steer them away from other negative influences. In a city where 23% of under 16s live in poverty and 4 out of 10 feel that they aren’t part of society, Leeds’ youth are at risk of falling off society’s radar. This is where West Yorkshire’s not-for-profit charities step in, and help to improve the health and wellbeing of disadvantaged and vulnerable young people by providing opportunities and nurturing communities. Running since 2000, DAZL – Dance Action Zone Leeds – is a charity organisation that aims to get children moving, and provides them the vibrant peacock wing of founder Ian Rodley to nestle under. Ian passionately explains that “the charity was initially set up in order to get young girls physically active. We recognised that dance is something they’d engage with and participate in.” Now that DAZL has grown, it is for all young people, particularly those from areas of deprivation. “We give them something worthwhile to do that is within their community. I still feel like one of the girls though!” What makes this project particularly special is its support for those who may feel as if they have been written off. Like the role model that many of the students may lack, DAZL acts as a guiding force to the youth, promoting higher education and fostering empowerment. Through running events, galas, shows and volunteering schemes for community sessions, the students are also able to give back to the people and places that helped them flower. In this sense, the organisation embodies a certain cyclicality, which sees them become cornerstones of the community from whence they came, acting as peer leaders for the next generation of young dancers. DAZL champions young people’s achievements. This is made evident when Ian tells me the story of Vicky Mawson’s passion and ambition, that he says is just one of thousands that illustrates the impact that DAZL has on its students. After beginning as a young dance leader, Vicky is now one of DAZL’s most valued and respected dance development officers. After coming through DAZL’s model, Vicky went on to university to study dance. She now contributes to what the organisation artistically showcases, and is shaping the way DAZL is run at …
DAZL Junior & Senior Dance Company @ East Riding Youth Dance Platform 17
From Barnsley to Bridlington, both the Senior and Junior youth dance companies travelled to The Spa in Bridlington on Sunday 5th February to perform at the East Riding Youth Dance Platform, which was such an amazing event. A huge thank you to June Mitchell and Dawn Holgate for inviting us which is becoming an annual event on the company tour schedule. After our tech rehearsal it was straight into the all important bow/finale workshop run by the amazing East Riding dance artists. It was great to see our young people interacting and working with the other youth groups that were attending the platform also. First up to perform in the first half of the show was the Senior Dance Company, they were ready to wow the audience with the very colourful and powerful performance of PRIDE! They came out and showcased the highs and lows of young LGBT peoples lives in today’s society. After the interval it was time for the Junior Dance Company to perform their intense and emotional piece of work around young people and mental health. The girls showed maturity within their performance whilst showcasing amazing technique and connection to the theme. The show finished with a high energy bow/finale dance where each group who performed in the platform came back on to have a little dance all together and say one final thank you to the audience. Everyone who performed that evening was brilliant. It is always a great pleasure for DAZL to be involved in the platform. Thanks again East Riding Youth
DAZL Senior Dance Company @ Crossing Borders 2017
DAZL Senior Dance Company travelled to Horizon College in Barnsley on Sunday 29th January to not only be a part of Crossing Borders 2017 platform, which was an amazing performance opportunity but it was also their audition for Fresh 2017. The piece which they have been working on since September with DAZL Dance Development Officer Vicky Mawson and Mason Jubb, recent Northern School of Contemporary Dance graduate and current Verve student, looks at the lives of LGBT young people in today’s society. Using iconic gay anthems and thought provoking choreography it takes the audience on a journey through the highs and lows of the characters lives. Throughout the day the group took part in a variety of workshops within the college including a contemporary dance workshop, a street dance workshop and a social media experience workshop which allowed the young people to interact with other youth groups attending the platform. After the Finale workshop it was time to get ready for the performance, costumes on, make up and hair looking flawless, the group were ready to put on a great show. The DAZL Seniors wowed the audience with their powerful and very colourful performance of PRIDE! There were tears, smiles and cheers from the people watching the piece, it was all in all a very emotional performance. We are now awaiting a decision from the FRESH 2017 panel and will find out at the end of February if they were chosen to perform at West Yorkshire Playhouse on Saturday 1st April.
DAZL in the Community at Christmas 2016
DAZL Events October – December 2016 Update DAZL Community Events 0ct – Dec 2016 DAZL has hosted the annual DAZL Halloween Party & Christmas Jumper Party 2016 Dance Studio Leeds Showcase Sharp Lane Community Group Bonfire Night event 2016 Pudsey Christmas Lights Switch-On 2016 Cottingley Christmas Fair DAZL performed at Child Friendly Leeds – Social Work Conference 2016 Inner East Leeds Youth Summit BITMO Christmas Market Performance 2016 40 Afterschool Dance Performances DAZL 2017 Activities New community dance groups in West Leeds New DAZL All Male Youth Dance Company Weekly community classes across Leeds DAZL Citywide Showcase Event Find all the information about our new community sessions on our classes page all DAZL Community classes start back from 3th January 2017 Happy Christmas and have a wonderful New Year! For more information you can follow us on the social media below Dance Action Zone Leeds Facebook @DAZL_Leeds Twitter
Something to shout about!
Over the past few months DAZL have had so many success stories including competing at our first Unify Dance UK, packed summer and weekly community dance programs across the city. Record number of DAZL young people studying dance at HE and FE level. Set up a new scheme for FREE provision for looked after children and young people throughout all DAZL activities. Summer Programs During summer our community program carried on throughout July and August. It was amazing to see 49 community dance sessions filled to the rafters with children and young people. As well as our regular provision we had our Summer Active 4 Life Creative Camp where we had nearly 70 young people come throughout the week. We also had our summer intensive week with the DAZL Comp Teams from South & East Leeds. Summer Dance Film Project To then end our already amazing summer program we did a dance & film project in partnership with Wayne Sables Project (WSP) #4Film4Days1Project involving 4 community groups across DAZL 2 based in Outer South which was DAZL Reload and DAZL Revolution and 2 in Inner South, DAZL Xplode @ Cottingley and DAZL Seniors the work was supported by the local Leeds City Council Ward Councillors and Community Committees. All in all a very successful and packed with fun summer program. You can view the work on our YouTube Channel and Vimeo Channel DAZL Hip-Hop Crews dazzle at Unify Dace UK Championships On Sunday 2nd October DAZL Diamonds, DAZL Boys and DAZL Inspire competed at their first Unify Dance UK North West Street and Hip Hop Competition in Manchester. As well as all 217 children and families thoroughly enjoying the day we left the competition with every team placing in the top 4 and majority of them were 1st and 2nd places. Amazing team effort by all the performers, parents and members of staff on the day. GO DAZL!! Young people further there development and careers in dance! At DAZL we are constantly guiding and giving young people the confidence to go onto further and higher education and this year was no different. We had 12 young people choose to study dance at college including attending Leeds City College and Wakefield College. We also had students secure University places including University of East London. Another 3 of past DAZL students doing PGCE’s in dance. As well as FE and HE we also have 3 DAZL students who auditioned and are now on the Northern School of Contemporary Dance CAT Scheme. Progression is fundamental to the DAZL model, empowering the dancers to take there learning further. We are delighted to have 2 NSCD Graduates delivering on the DAZL program and value all the partnership we have made across Leeds and beyond. We are committed to supporting children! DAZL has a commitment to looked after children/ carers/ foster families also young people with additional need to support them to engage with the arts. DAZL does this as we want to be as inclusive as possible and reduce the barriers to the arts/ …
DAZL Seniors – Park Life
DAZL film using the DAZL Seniors (12-17yrs) filmed in Middleton Park Choreographers Vicky Mawson, Stephanie Dobson and Mason Jubb and Filmed by Wayne Sables. The project funded by Leeds City Council – Community Community (Inner South) Youth Activity Fund. Brief – To create a dance film with no editing…
“Stepping Out” Cottingley – Dance Film
Dance Action Zone Leeds working with Wayne Sables on a project funded by Leeds City Council – Inner South Leeds Community Committee. Cottingley DAZL dance group (5- 11 years) creating a positive breakdance from children and young people locally. For more information you can follow us on the social media here – Dance Action Zone Leeds Facebook @DAZL_Leeds Twitter
DAZL Supports the Leeds 10k
DAZL Supports the Leeds 10k On Sunday 10th July 2016 DAZL staff including our Director Ian Rodley joined in the fun of this years Leeds 10k, supporting the Jane Thomlison Appeal. DAZL Supported the Jane Thomlisons cheer station, cheering on the running of which many parents DAZL parents ran. This was a an extra special Leeds 10k as this was the 10 year anniversary of the event. We loved been involved and will be cheering you all on next year – thank you all. For more information you can follow us on the social media here – Dance Action Zone Leeds Facebook @DAZL_Leeds Twitter
DAZL at Seacroft Gala 2016
DAZL at Seacroft Gala 2016 DAZL group from local area had the pleasure of showing its work at the Seacroft Community Gala 2016, the event took place on Saturday 7th July 2016 at Seacroft Green. The young people entertained the community whilst promoting the NEW DAZL Community sessions support by the Local Inner East Community Committee. The sessions are based at Kentmear community Centre on Tuesdays 5-6pm and also Denis Healey Community Centre – please click flyer here DAZL East Leeds Community Dance NEW 16 the sessions are for young people 7-11 years, Boys and Girls welcome. DAZL would like to thank the Seacroft Gala for an absolutly fantastic Day, the feedback from the young people was that they loved been involved in the Leeds Cultural Strategy getting the community involved in the bid for European Capital of Culture Bid 2023 questions as they got some fantastic key-rings with a picture of the whole group. The loved the tea and tolerance tent with the drawing of the stories. A great day for the whole family. For more information you can follow us on the social media below. Dance Action Zone Leeds Facebook @DAZL_Leeds Twitter
