Feedback from parent #KickOffBoys Project

DAZL Activities, Dance and Health, DAZL Projects/ Events, DAZL Video, General DAZL News, Publicity

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. 

Co-op Beeston members raise a total £3,104.39 for DAZL

DAZL Activities, Dance News & Info, DAZL Video, General DAZL News, Publicity Leave a Comment

The Co-op has raised £19 million for over 4,000 causes  The Co-op Members have raised an amazing £19 million for over 4,000 causes across the UK. This is a fantastic achievement the members, who have shopped with with the Co-op and chosen to support local causes with their 1% since last November. DAZL was chosen to be one of the three chosen good causes by the Co-op Beeston Store. THANK YOU BEESTON CO-OP MEMBER We wanted to provide dance opportunities which work towards a Christmas community showcase at the Northern School Of Contemporary Dance, Riley Theatre for deprived young people across Leeds.   You helped raise a total £3,104.39 to enable DAZL to make this happen.   About the Project – The project will bring the community from predominantly across LS10 and LS11 together with young people from across the city of Leeds to celebrate the young peoples achievement, building stronger communities and promoting community cohesion. The young people will gain increased self esteem, confidence and greater health and well-being. They will also have improved their physical and mental health by been involved in the project.   Check us out online via the links below! Dance Action Zone Leeds (DAZL) website Dance Action Zone Leeds (DAZL) on Facebook Dance Action Zone Leeds (DAZL) on Twitter About the Charity – DAZL DAZL Aim To improve the mental & physical health of children & young people aged 3 – 19 years, through dance as physical activity in disadvantaged communities of Leeds. We aim to reduce health inequalities, improving the health & well-being of young adults with disabilities up to 25 years, families & the wider community through asset-based community dance & wider dance opportunities.   We do this through a five stage model. Participation – Engaging inactive children & young people through high quality dance as physical activity Community Leadership – Engaging & empowering local people/communities Partnerships – Supporting and delivering the wider health/social care agenda Artistic Development & Progression Support Celebrating Communities & Performance Opportunities. https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes/13760 Thank you CO-OP #TheCoopWay       

Painted Faces Film by Kick Off Boys Project

DAZL Activities, Dance and Health, DAZL Projects/ Events, DAZL Video, General DAZL News Leave a Comment

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

DAZL Activities, DAZL Projects/ Events, DAZL Video, General DAZL News Leave a Comment

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/  

Dance Film “This Is Us!”

DAZL Activities, DAZL Video, General DAZL News Leave a Comment

Dance Action Zone Leeds in partnership with Wayne Sables Project and Rees Dance presents “This Is Us!” supported by Arts Council England part of the #YorkshireConnection project 2018                           Social Media – Twitter @DAZL_Leeds  Facbook – LIKE danceactionzoneleeds or Istagram @danceactionzoneleeds

Melissa’s Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge for DAZL

DAZL Activities, Classes and Timetables, Dance and Health, Dance News & Info, DAZL Projects/ Events, DAZL Video, General DAZL News, Publicity Leave a Comment

Melissa’s Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge for DAZL DAZL Mum’s Team member and DAZL parent Melissa Peacock will be doing the 24 Mile hike of the Yorkshire 3 Peaks. This is an ultimate challenge & the money raised from this will support Dance Action Zone Leeds Community Disability Cheerdance/ Streetdance Dance Program. Need There is a lack of opportunities for young people from areas of deprivation with disabilities to access affordable inclusive community street and cheerdance provision across Leeds. Solution We will aim tackle this by providing a FREE, Low cost/ no cost, fun, inclusive year long dance program, with wider opportunities attached. We will set up a DAZL streetdance & cheerdance crew for young people 3-25yrs with disabilities across Leeds. This program will be part of the DAZL international championship winning cheerdance/ streetdance crews from DAZL Diamonds and DAZL Inspire. Aim  To provide young people with disabilities from Leeds, new and exciting dance opportunities. Activities To set up a community street/ cheerdance program for young people with disabilities, also provide wider cultural opportunities. We will aim to engage 20 young people weekly and follow their progress through social media. We will also obtain feedback from the young people and their families. Impact From been involved in this project the young people will have better health and wellbeing. They will gain a passion for dance and transferable skills which they will assist them in the future. They will also have a greater social network of friends and have gained new creative/ cultural experiences. We will demonstrate this impact through both digital and more traditional case studies. 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. Location The project will be located in areas of deprivation across the LS10 & LS8 postcodes communities of Leeds. Belle Isle/ Middleton, Burmantofts areas of Leeds which are situated in Inner East Leeds and Inner South Leeds. Beneficiaries 20 young people with disabilities will benefit from this project weekly but we will deliver FREE taster workshops in four SILC’s to drum up interest working with around 150 young people. You can support Mellissa and DAZL by donating to our BigGive page by clicking on this link. https://secure.thebiggive.org.uk/projects/view/28828/melissas-yorkshire-3-peaks-challenge/  You can also text our JustTextGiving page by Texting DAZL17 £5 (the amount can be anything from £1 -£10) Text to 70070 For more information email – [email protected] or call the DAZL office – 0113 2706903 Remember if you want more information or to view the pictures and videos from Melissa’s progress, you can follow us on the social media below Dance Action Zone Leeds Facebook     @DAZL_Leeds Twitter   Instagram – danceactionzoneleeds  

DAZL Junior & Senior Dance Company @ East Riding Youth Dance Platform 17

DAZL Dance and Health, Dance News & Info, DAZL Projects/ Events, DAZL Video, General DAZL News, Publicity Leave a Comment

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 Dance and Health, Dance News & Info, DAZL Projects/ Events, DAZL Video, General DAZL News, Publicity Leave a Comment

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.  

“Stepping Out” Cottingley – Dance Film

DAZL Activities, Dance and Health, DAZL Video, Publicity Leave a Comment

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