"Body Currents" Dance Project Coming To Caithness

8th July 2009

Eden Court has secured £ 590k funding for this community based dance project, £ 475k from Scottish Arts Council, £ 39k from Highland Leader, £ 36k from Cairngorm Leader, £15k from Robertson Trust and £25k from the Council (£20kfrom the Highland Cultural Programme and £5k from Area Arts Budgets), thus securing significant new resources for the Highlands.

"Body Currents" will consist of four dance residencies, each of 9 months duration, centred on the locations of Dornie, Aviemore, Lybster and Fort William and involving other communities, towns and villages in the surrounding area; these locations were chosen because of their waterside locations and in consultation with local communities. The project plans to involve as wide as possible a range of local people in dance classes and activities. Each residency will culminate in spectacular, outdoor community performances and events. As dance provision has been identified as weak in terms of arts provision and opportunity in the Highlands, this project would offer valuable new access. It also aligns well with the Service's Youth and Sports strategies and the Highland 2007 legacy.

As the delivery phase begins, Eden Court have invited Plan B (the Highland based dance company) and the Council to formalise the partnership to deliver "Body Currents", by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding. Plan B's role would be to provide artistic direction and expertise and the Council's to maximise community engagement and particularly the involvement of schools and young people.

The partnership would involve -
• An active role in the "Body Currents" project and financial management groups.
• Staff involvement in encouraging community engagement, including through our leisure centres, libraries, arts education programme and Active Schools Coordinators.
• Working with Plan B, Eden Court and possibly others to develop a legacy from the project, for example developing a strategy for dance development in Highland.
• Where possible, providing temporary office accommodation for project staff in the four locations

Adverts have now been placed for 8 Dance Catalysts and an administrator.
Two posts will be based in each of the following areas: Caithness, Skye & Lochalsh, Badenoch & Strathspey and Lochaber whilst the administrator will be based in Inverness with travel required. The Dance catalysts advert can be seen at http://forum.caithness.org/showthread.php?t=80747 and the administrator job will be based in Inverness at http://forum.caithness.org/showthread.php?t=80749