Digital classes, workshops and more w/c 18 May
Last month we launched one of our commissioned projects, HOMEMADE, a five day online dance course for young people aged 13 - 18 to create a new dance work with choreographer and winner of the Contemporary Final of BBC Young Dancer of the Year 2019, Matthew Rawcliffe. Over the course of a week, young dancers from across the country worked closely with Matthew, and now we are excited to share their creative choreographic routines that have been filmed and edited together into four contrasting dance films.
Watch them here
This week we had our final online session for An Ode to... where parents and carers came together to talk about their stories of lockdown. If you were not able to attend, we'd like to invite you to fill out a quick anonymous survey, with separate ones for parents or carers of children aged 4+, with little ones between ages 0 and 4 and for working parents. Your stories will then be used to create fun and silly songs which will later be performed in a family friendly online gig. The deadline to complete the survey is Friday 22 May.
We have a busy week of online activities, challenges and workshops for all to enjoy. We’re looking forward to welcoming Ewan Millar, who recently won the Woodwind Final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition, to our online Memory Café on Monday. Our Memory Cafés are designed to provide support for people living with Dementia, their carers and family members, and Ewan will be performing Rat Pack classics on piano. Here's a breakdown of everything lined up for next week (commencing 18 May).
Workshops w/c 18 May
Monday 18 May
Memory Café Online - interactive session via Zoom at 10.45am
These friendly sessions are designed to provide support for people living with Dementia, their carers and family members. Musician Ewan Millar from Berkshire Maestros will lead a live session which will include well known Rat Pack classics on piano, which you can sing along to in your own homes, dance, or just enjoy listening to. Places need to be booked in advance by 9am on Monday 18 May.
Makaton Nursery Rhyme - pre-recorded video available on the website homepage
Following Friday's Makaton Clue of the Week, 'SPIDER', our Early Years and Education Officer, Becci, will reveal this week's Nursery Rhyme.
Tuesday 19 May
Rhyme and Shine - interactive session via Zoom at 10.15am
Rhyme and Shine is a popular singing session that typically takes place in our Learning Centre for parents/ carers and babies aged 2 and under. Becci will be streaming a session which you can enjoy in the comfort of your home, via the online app Zoom. Places need to be booked in advance by 12pm the day before the session date.
Wednesday 20 May
James Cousins Company: Clothes to Cover - Facebook premiere at 10am
We will be joining James Cousins Company in their Facebook premiere of this dance film. Clothes to Cover by James Cousins Company sees dancers Amy Hollingsworth and Meshach Henry entwine and connect through layers of clothing. Made in response to poetry by British-Egyptian writer Sabrina Mahfouz (The History of Water in the Middle East), the movement is set to an original composition by GAIKA (Noughts + Crosses).
#dreamOUT - presented by PillowTalk Theatre
Every week, the PillowTalk storytellers will provide your family with a short tale to engage children and inspire adults. Along with the story will be: three questions to get you thinking, three ideas for fun activities to do at home, and one extra special illustration.
Singing for Wellbeing Online - interactive session via Zoom at 2pm
Join Becci for 30 minutes of Singing for Wellbeing every Wednesday, with the chance to have fun singing along to classic songs from a range of genres. Places need to be booked in advance by midnight the day before the session date.
Infant Youth Theatre - interactive session via Zoom at 10.30am
Live online session to continue support for participants of Corn Exchange Youth Theatre.
Armchair Reviewers Club - Response to last week's screening
For last week's session of the Armchair Reviewers Club, we sat down to watch Mushy: Lyrically Speaking in the comfort of our homes. We encouraged our audiences to submit their thoughts on the play via email or social media, and we'll be creating a 'roundup' that brings these reviews together.
Thursday 21 May
Junior Youth Theatre (School years 3 - 6) - interactive session via Zoom at 10.30am
Live online session to continue support for participants of Corn Exchange Youth Theatre.
Intermediate Youth Theatre - interactive session via Zoom at 2pm
Live online session to continue support for participants of Corn Exchange Youth Theatre.
Armchair Reviewers Club - Watch the Play - pre-recorded video
Join us on Thursday as we watch another theatre performance via a link in the comfort of our homes. This week we're going to be sitting down to watch the Olivier award-nominated It’s Easy To Be Dead. We'd love you to submit your thoughts, either on social media or by emailing [email protected] by Monday 25 May and we'll deliver the verdict on Wednesday 27 May.
Friday 22 May
Rhyme and Shine - interactive session via Zoom at 9.45am
Rhyme and Shine is a popular singing session that typically takes place in our Learning Centre for parents/ carers and babies aged 2 and under. Becci will be streaming a session which you can enjoy in the comfort of your home, via the online app Zoom. Places need to be booked in advance by 12pm the day before the session date.
Junior Youth Theatre (School years 7 - 9) - interactive session via Zoom at 10.30am
Live online session to continue support for participants of Corn Exchange Youth Theatre.
Arji's Poetry Jam - interactive session via Crowdcast at 1pm
These workshops, designed by poet Arji Manuelpillai, will inspire you and introduce you to writing poetry in a way you didn’t think possible. These sessions also feature speakers including world class comedians, child psychotherapists, yoga teachers, scientists, actors and many more. This week we discuss the connections between poetry and science. We meet up with scientist Jessica Vamathevan, who’ll explain more about Covid-19 before we create science-based poems. Places need to be booked in advance by 9am on the day of the session.
Alphabetland - pre-recorded video accessible from website homepage
Our Early Years and Education Officer will be recording 10 minutes of songs, rhymes and games, which will be uploaded onto our website.
Know someone who doesn’t have access to the internet? Let us know and we will call them or post them with some activities to enjoy. Email [email protected]
Or, why not tell us what you'd like to see next!