Annual Report 2023124

THE COMPANY
DU Dance (Nl) is a vibrant, progressive dance
company. high￿ regarded for its work at the cutting
edge of dance and community development.
Working through the medium of contemporary
dance theatre and constantly pushing the
boundaries of where and with whom dance has
value, the company's work focuses on young
people but involves people of all ages and abilrties
' PROJECT
' PARTNERS
same professional standard of work, regardless
of whether that work takes pla￿ in a high profile
venue or in a local school hall. The company
advocates the entitlement of marginalised
individuals and groups to benefit from the same
opportunities as everyone else.
Bamado's Nl
Belfast Cty Council
Belvoir Studio Theatre
Beyond Skin
Blessed Trinity College
Brian Friel Theatre, QUB
Causeway Coast & Glens BC
Craic Theatre & Arts
Culturlann McAdam O Fiaich
Dar Al-Kalima University,
Bethlehem
Diyar Arts Theatre
Dungannon Youth Resource
Centre
Education Authority Nl
Leabank Nursing Home
Mid Ulster DC
Newington Day Centre
One Dance UK
Queens University, Belfast
STEP Language School
The MAC, Belfast
VILLA, Leipzig
Whiterock Children's Centre
Y dance, Scotland
YoLrth Arts Wales
Through dance, the company aims to inspire
people and communities to realise their full
potential and is committed to building new
audiences and to training and sharing skills.
OUR AIM is to introduce young people to dan
and the creative arts and to advocate dan￿ as a
tcxjl fcKfaciltsb'ng personal and ￿￿la1 developrrenL
OUR VISION is to advance dance as an art
form, build community connections and foster
tolerance and respect.
The company's artistic
and management
team has over thirty
years, experience
of working within
communities all over
the world. using
dance and the arts
as tools for personal
and community
development and
social change.

PROGRAMMES OF WORK
DU Dance (Nl) has formulated its approach into Interconnected
programmes of work under the following generic titles:
cDepsipiG THE DIVIDE
focuses on cross-
community work uslng dance, with its phy51cal, emotlonal and
cognitive demands, as a tool for coheslon. This work provides
people with a safe environment in which to let go of fears and
prejudices and begin to have contact with each other through
our common humanity. In the belief that most attitudes to life are
established in childhood and on the understanding that change
needs to happen both at grassroots as well as policy level, DU
Dance (Nl) works with young people in a variety of educational
and social settings, concentrating on areas where particlpants
experience inter-community conflict.
CLOSIN G TH E GAP - focuses on Inter-generatlonal
work by bringing people of different generatlons together.
Historically, dance has been a social gatherer wlth people of all
ages and genders. Currently, however, there are few situatlons that
bring people of different ages together. With advancements In dlgltsl
technology and the radical change in forms of communlcation, the
generation gap has Increased. Closlng the Gap seeks to address
this lack of connection and to challenge preconceived attltudes
that obstruct Integratlon and Increase Isolation.
benefits young people who
are at risk of belng socially segregated due to their special needs,
cuttural difference or dlsability. People who are perceived to be
dlfferent in some way are often pushed to the margins of soclety
and are excluded from fvll participation by the organlsats'on of our
physical and social environments. Almost all encounter prejudlce,
bullying, insensitive treatment and dlscrlmination at sorne time in
their lives. This programme seeks to bulld connectlons bebNeen
dlfferent groups, to celebrate dlfferences and facilftate a process In
ich every Indivldual can be fulty received Into thelr communlty.
OPENING THE SPECTRUM
focuses on
broadening horizons and opening up new opportunities. It includes
onfroff workshops, summer schemes, performances, festivals or
longer ongoing projects. The programme incorporates work outside
Northem Ireland, vthich is undertaken only If there Is a social or
developmental aim that frts into the framework of the company's
mission ststement. Programmes of work delivered Internationally
have resulted in the development of continuing partnerships wlth
local development organisations.

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
Board of Directors
Rosamond Bennett (Chairperson) - Chief Executive Officer, chnsb.an Aid Ireland
Valerie Catterson (Secretary) - Chartered accountant and freelance financial manager
Les McLean (freasurer until Dec 2023) - Project Manager, Busi1￿sS servI￿s Organisation
Tom Hughes (Treasurer from Jan 2024) - Online Visual Content Producer, BBC Northern Ireland
Claire Flynn - Policy and Public affairs manager foi Nl - Heritage Fund
Marle O'Donoghue - Manager of Creats've Schoolslschools Improvement- EANI
Youth Steering Group
Rebecca Wallace (Young Ambassador)
Amelle Corr • Oisin Gordon • Paulina Kadlof • Leo Keery • Molly Kelly
Noah Kerloch • Kitti Lagyk • Oresta Pilsudskalte • Rory Press Worth
Noah Preston • Saolrse Ryan-Lunn • Tlerna Ryanlunn
Company Staff
Magg Byrne - Arkn"stic Director
Glna Donnelly - Creative Produc8r
Kate Guelke - creats.ve Producer
Morag Stuart - matkeb.ng Co-ordinator
Deborah Hamllton - Youth Engagement Project Director
Sheena Kelly - Community Development Artist
Core Youth Engagement Dance Artists:
Christlne O'Nelll . Michaela Elllot . Phlllp Johnston • Sean O'Nelll . Rebecca Walla
PRINCIPAL
FUNDERS:
SUPPORT & FUNDING
IN KIND
SVPPORT
FROM:
lea
L￿r￿*45
OYAL
PORTICUS
CONTACT US
www.dudanceni.com Email" info@dudanceni.com Tel" 02890 230877
DUDanceni
du.dance.ni
Chaiity No. PIIC102765 Company No. N1063813
Graphics. Design & Print- Media Design & PrinL Belfast

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