HUM was part of the MAP project in the East of England, run in partnership between Kadam, the Theatre Resource Centre, Bedfordshire County Council and The Bedford Charity.
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As a result of HUM project, Kadam is looking to make Disability and South Asian dance a regular feature of its annual programme. It will work on only those projects, which are developmental in nature. It places the priority on creating a performance group. For that goal, Kadam will need to identify sources of funding and to continue to strengthen its relationship with Disability Groups and organisations. |
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| Aims and Objectives of HUM |
Overall Aims
- To identify aspects of South Asian dance that are suitable for participants with Learning and Physical Disabilities.
- To make relationships with local Special Schools and Disability Groups.
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Objectives
- To reflect on own practise
- To test visual and musical stimuli for movement
- To be challenged choreographically to accommodate individual difference
- To engage the group through the right balance of challenge and enjoyment.
Before the start of the project, disability training was given to the project leaders, the Artistic Director and staff members of Kadam. |
| Participants of HUM project |
- Grange School
- Hillcrest School
- Pieces of 8 in association with Bedford Creative Arts
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| Outcomes of HUM |
Looking at the overarching aim of identifying elements of South Asian dance that are suitable for people with learning and physical disabilities the project was highly successful. Some of the findings for instance:
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Grange School
Content -
- Use of yoga as warm up and interesting floor work for whole body movement
- Chanting of bols (rhythmic syllables) was very successful
- Working in the choreography change over phrases from one movement to the next such as keeping rhythm with feet alone to give a pause
- Use of gong or other cue to change from one movement to the next
- Pair work
Methodology - Giving leadership for different sections to different individuals.
Hillcrest School
Content -
- Dance around a chair for autistic group
- One to one percussion for those with very restricted movement
- Balance of movement, story telling and percussion for individuals with severe learning difficulties
Methodology - Team teaching and working on a one to one basis with autistic children.
Pieces of 8
Content -
- Use of text to accompany movement, which aided recall and gave a sharper definition to movement.
- Use of martial type movements especially for adult males
- Floor work
- A mixture of free movement and set phrases worked well
- Use of scarves as colour and for measuring space and distance
Methodology -
- Allowing members to move at their own pace.
- Giving movement material appropriate to ability simultaneously danced
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| Other Outcomes |
- Five artists were employed by the HUM project: two musicians and three dancers.
- One dancer was trained through the programme, as it was his first time working with people with disability. The range of the participants was wide from children to adults from moderate to severe learning difficulties including an autistic group.
- Three new dance pieces were created.
- Two new pieces of music were recorded. A five minute video of the dance by Pieces of 8 performed at the Bowen West Theatre was made and circulated to local groups.
The second aim was to make contact with local centres and Disability Groups.
- Kadam has made a good relationship with Grange School and we are hoping to set up a Performance Core from amongst the pupils taught.
- Pieces of 8, which are a group set up by Bedford Creative Arts would be approached again.
- Kadam has set up a relationship with Bedford Advocacy Alliance, which requested follow up workshops.
- A summer project at the Westfield Centre was undertaken. Some of the participants from Pieces of 8 joined in.
- This report was submitted to the Bedford Charity in August 2004
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