Empowered through Performance

North East Dance Project and how we perform to transform

As I quietly slipped inside the studio at Newcastle College Performance Academy, after hours on a Thursday night, I entered a warm space filled with laughter and creative discussion. A group of mixed ages, in layers of leotards and legwarmers, chatting animatedly about the best way to get a dancer from Stage Left to Stage Right. Dedicated, focused, and with a real sense of pride in what they are creating, as a fly on the wall I can’t help but smile as I soak in their infectious energy.

North East Dance Project brings together a collective of international non-professional dancers with an age range from 18-77. Responding to a desire for more performance opportunities, Newcastle-based Dance Artist and teacher, Amy Becke, created the project in September 2023 to provide ambitious platforms for adult dancers from across the region to perform.

Adult dance classes are fairly common across the city, with many people dropping in to a salsa or street class after work. But opportunities to perform are few and far between. With a solid group of committed individuals, buzzing with vivacity, the project has been an immediate success.

“It’s nice to be part of something that feels like more than just going to a class, it’s a bit more special” – Nicola, NEDP dancer

As a performer myself, I often attempt to analyse this desire to perform as a slightly contrary aspect of my personality. I am not an extrovert, I don’t enjoy being the centre of attention in social situations – I cringe when people sing Happy Birthday to me. So why do I seek out opportunities to perform in front of hundreds of people? Of course, as a professional I now get paid for it, but that doesn’t explain the 15 or so years that I was a performer-in-training, signing up for school plays and dance school shows, summer fairs and singing competitions. There is something uniquely thrilling about putting on a costume, stepping out into the light, and sharing your hard work and skill with an audience. Sensing their presence, there is a physiological response to their eyes upon you that, in my experience, cannot be found in any other situation.

“It really came from the dancers, they’d perform every weekend if they could!” – Amy Becke, NEDP director.

Some perform to transform, stepping into a role or character as a form of escapism, trying on new personality traits like accessories from a dressing-up box. Others perform as a way to gain approval that may be lacking in other parts of their lives, craving that post-show applause like many friendly pats on the back.

Of course, artistic expression is a key motivator, whether that’s expressing one’s own creative ideas, or being a vessel for the ideas of a choreographer, director, or writer. Knowing that you are bringing this work to life, and contributing part of yourself to its creation, can be an incredibly fulfilling experience in itself. As the NEDP dancers offer suggestions, ask questions, contribute ideas, I’m struck by the empowered and collaborative nature of the group.

“It’s really interesting watching Amy working, it is a democratic process and people can put their ideas in. Amy comes in with a starting point, she’ll often bring a piece of music or a movement idea and we just try it, and then it grows from there.” – Susan, NEDP dancer.

For many performers, the community is what is most appealing. Working together, dancing together, sharing your creative energies on stage together; the lifelong memories that inevitably come with such communal experiences can be even more rewarding than the performances themselves. Would I have enjoyed my childhood pantomime runs as much, if I wasn’t joined onstage by 7 of my peers every night? I hardly remember actually being on stage, but I could talk for hours about the dressing room banter, backstage mischief, and new friendships that blossomed out of those annual productions.

In adulthood, opportunities to be creative and simply have fun with a group of friends are surprisingly hard to come by. Some join running clubs or 5-a-side football teams; others join dance groups, and by offering high-quality performance opportunities, NEDP has become a welcoming and inspiring group to be part of.

Their first performance took place last December, at Wylam Brewery. With an audience of over 100, the success of the show surprised even Amy, who hopes not only to create transformative experiences for the dancers, but also for audiences. Focusing on non-theatre spaces, NEDP will collaborate with other artists including live musicians to bring dance to less traditional venues, reaching people who may not otherwise encounter it.

“So many people were just there because their friend was in it, and they’d never watched dance before, but their feedback was ‘do you know what I really enjoyed that’, they said it was engaging”. – Amy Becke.

Seeing people dance because they truly love it, because it is how they have chosen to spend their valuable free time, is a wonderful thing. Seeing a whole ensemble of dancers who feel valued and connected with the work they are performing, confident and capable, is magic.

“I loved it, I was so impressed. I saw it and I thought, I just have to do it.” – Danka, NEDP dancer who was inspired to join after seeing the Wylam Brewery performance.

For anyone considering joining NEDP, whether you’re an experienced dancer who’s looking for more chances to perform, or a total beginner who just needs to take that first step into the studio, the advice from the current dancers is “Don’t think, just join!”. The group is open to all abilities and experience levels, and it is clear even from my brief glimpse into rehearsals that Amy has a skilled approach to ensuring everyone looks and feels good within her choreography.

If you need any more convincing, go along to see the Project 2 performance on March 24^th, taking place at the Biscuit Factory – you may just be inspired.

PERFORMANCES | North East Dance Pro (north-east-dance-project.com)

Images by Alan Mason.