The Place

The Place has produced a series of activities specially developed for children, with Something Happening For Kids and Summer Shakers, The Place’s youth dance summer holiday projects all taking place this summer.

The activities are open to everyone; there are no auditions, and no previous experience is required. Combining a programme suitable for both families and young dancers, The Place’s summer activities for kids only require plenty of energy and enthusiasm.

Something Happening For Kids, on July 23, is a fun day for families and children (18 months+), featuring performances and workshops, including face painting, stories, music, arts and crafts activities. Staged in the intimacy of The Place’s studios and in the Robin Howard Dance Theatre, the day features three interactive dance and circus performances, specially created for young audiences: The Light Garden; Elsewhere; and Cosas, and a series of workshops, including two Circus Workshops, a Percussion Workshop, and a creative contemporary dance workshop. The Place café will be serving a children’s menu, and there’s free space to store bags and buggies.

Summer Shakers, the annual holiday project for young dancers, takes place for a week, from July 25–29. Led by The Place’s highly skilled tutors, Summer Shakers includes four courses: Heat Wave (6-8 yrs old); Tornado (9-12 yrs old); Monsoon (13-18 yrs old); and the boys-only Hurricane (10-14 yrs old). The courses are open to any level of expertise. Participants will learn from a team of inspiring tutors to develop their dance skills throughout the week and work creatively to produce short dance pieces to be performed to family and friends on the final day.
 

Further details:

Something Happening for Kids:
fun dance for family audiences
Sat 23 July; 10.30am – 5pm
Box Office: 020 7121 1100/www.theplace.org.uk
Prices : Free  for under 2s; Children/Adults £5; Group of 4 people £15

The Light Garden, by award-winning filmmaker Rachel Davies, recreates the emotions of an enchanting camping experience, including a cave exploration, weather-control powers, a tent in the dark and a smouldering camp-fire, whilst admiring dancers appearing in the moon.

Elsewhere, sees performer and aerialist Ilona Janti engaging in a fight against an animated Pacman-like creature, in a fabulously imaginative game that fascinates children and adult alike, who are also invited on stage to play with the images projected, sharing the fun and the magic.

Cosas, is masterly staged by Swedish choreographer Alma Soderberg, a captivating and hilarious performer who sings whilst talking, talks whilst dancing and dances whilst singing. Cosas is an adaptation specially created for Something Happening for Kids.

Summer Shakers 2011:
25 - 29 July
6-18 yrs
More Information: 020 7121 1080/
Prices: £75 - £99

Heat Wave 6-8 years
Creative dance and Masking with Tarika Hidayatullah
25-29 July 10am-12.30pm
Cost: £75
A double helping of creativity is required for this year’s project for 6-8 year olds involving dance and mask making. Young dancers will have the opportunity to swish, duck and dive through this year’s ‘under the sea’ themed week, culminating in a deep sea dance performance, to be shared with family and friends during the last session. The sharing will be complete with individually made masks, which participants will be able to take home. Sessions will be lead by Tarika Hidayatullah.

Tornado 9-12 years
Contemporary Dance and Hip Hop with Toni Adigun and Sarah Gordon of Avant Garde Dance Company
25-29 July 10am-12.30pm
Cost: £75
Tony Adigun of Avant Garde Dance Company will run this year’s course for 9-12 year olds.
Avant Garde are known for fusing contemporary dance and hip and hop, and embrace a range of dance genres throughout their work.
Assisted by Sarah Gordon (Avant Garde Dance) Tony will lead the group, using his unique style to create a short dance piece, enabling each of the dancers a chance to improve their skills, learn new techniques and express themselves. The piece will be performed to family and friends at an informal sharing on the last day, alongside other holiday projects.

Monsoon 13-18 years
Dance Technique and Creative Project with Rachael Mossom
25-29 July 10 am-3.30 pm
Cost: £99
Rachael Mossom will lead this contemporary technique and creative project for 13-18 year olds. Morning sessions will explore the principles of contemporary dance through a range of fun and dynamic movement phrases, accompanied by the lively and engaging rhythms of a percussionist.
Afternoon session will focus on creativity; dancers will be lead by Rachel through a series of tasks and improvisations to co-create a dance piece, to be performed to family and friends at an informal sharing on the last day, alongside other holiday projects.

Hurricane Boys Only 10-14years
Contemporary Dance and Creative Project with Ben Ash
25th-29th July 10-3.30
Cost: £99
Now entering its 9th year of success, The Place’ Hurricane boys only project promises to be exciting as ever. Ben Ash joins us again this year to lead the boys through a high energy and stimulating week of contemporary dance and creativity. The group will work with Ben to produce a short dance piece to be performed to family and friends at an informal sharing on the last day, alongside other holiday projects.
 
Contacts
For further press information/images/interviews:
The Place Communication Office
Marta Bogna, Press and Media Manager
020 7121 1025/