Bright Sparks Projects

Over the next three years, YDance will develop partnerships further with the National Galleries, Historic Environmental Scotland and local authorities across Scotland to ensure the work is meeting the needs of local communities, reaching new young people who haven’t engaged in dance before and ensuring geographical reach.

These projects aim to develop children's and young people’s knowledge of history and visual arts by using dance as a catalyst for expression and learning. They also enable all children from various communities and settings to access dance and heritage sites in their local environment.

The Bright Sparks projects work with the following outcomes:

  • Young people who have not engaged with dance previously connect with the project

  • An increased no. of opportunities for dance is created in a local authority

  • Young people have the opportunity to learn through interdisciplinary practice

  • This project delivers a high-quality, interdisciplinary creative learning experience where children aged 3-5 years learn through and about dance and visual arts, enhancing their development and confidence. It demonstrates to teachers, parents, and carers that visual arts are accessible and meaningful to early years audiences by using movement and dance.

    Working in partnership with Liz Conacher from the National Galleries and Granton Primary School, 25 nursery-aged children participated in creative dance sessions based on visual art produced by older students in the school. Their movement was created into a dance film by artist Constant Viguer and the film will hang in the National Gallery from May to November 23. This project is designed to engage new audiences in dance and visual arts and challenge views of what dance film is with young children.

    Plans are being developed with National Galleries for 2024 and beyond, as both organisations feel there is a synergy of ambition and values.

  • Working in partnership with Historic Scotland and Highlife Highlands Heritage, Remixed aims to engage socially isolated young people aged 12-16 from the Highlands of Scotland in dance and to attract young people to Historic Environment Scotland sites in their localities through dance.

    Ten young people from one of the Highlife Highlands youth clubs are working with a YDance artist to create a dance piece based on the history of Fort George in Nairn. This piece will be performed on-site to an audience of the local community.

    Plans are now being developed for 24-26 happening in strategic locations across Scotland at various historical sites.

    Applications for funding will be made in 2023 for larger projects in 24/25

  • In 2022-25, funded by Sportscotland funding procured by East Dunbartonshire Active Schools, we are delivering high-quality inclusive dance provision across the local authority. This includes:

    Direct delivery in ASN Primary and Secondary Schools, including Campsie View School and Merkland School

    Direct delivery of weekly dance sessions for young people with ASN in local communities

    CLPL training for teachers, Active Schools coordinators, parent-volunteers and Dance Leaders to build knowledge in skills in inclusive dance practice

    Award in Dance Leadership courses with an inclusive focus for pupils aged 14-18 from secondary schools across the authority