Category: Dance

Fair Access Fair Access Expo: Community and Applied Arts Practice

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Fair Access Expo: 

 Community and Applied Arts Practice 

Friday 7 June, 10-3:30pm at The Boardwalk, Glasgow G1 1TF

Are you aged 16 – 25 and want to use your creativity to ask questions, share stories and make change? Do you think the arts can change people’s minds, opinions and lives? Are you interested in building leadership and facilitation skills? If the answer is yes, come along to find out more about Community and Applied Arts Practice at our Fair Access Expo.

At this exciting all-day event, we’re inviting you to join practical sessions with experienced community artists to:

  • Make Theatre
  • Get Moving
  • Make Music
  • Tell a Story

They’ll share their skills and show you how they work creatively with a range of communities. Come and learn about the stories that matter.

What is Community Arts Practice? 

It’s a springboard to careers in teaching, directing, performance making, youth work, community music, arts in health and wellbeing, community education, play work, arts funding, creative learning in arts and cultural organisations and so much more.

How to register

To register, please visit the Eventbrite event page where you can sign up as a young person to attend, or as a teacher to book for a group of pupils.

Ticket like button for registering

Who can attend

Fair Access prioritise places for young people aged 16 – 25 who are facing barriers in accessing the arts and who meet one or more of the following criteria:

Get in touch if you have any questions or need us to check a postcode for you.

If you are a young person living very rurally (e.g. on an island) you may also be eligible. Please get in touch with us and we will let you know if you can apply.

Note to teachers

If you are a teacher, we encourage you to attend this opportunity with your pupils. If you cannot attend, we ask that either an alternative member of staff accompanies the group, or that the students are passed on the booking link in order to book themselves a place. This will enable us to collect the details we require from the young people attending to be able to run the event effectively.

Contact WACI for More Information

You can contact the team at waci@rcs.ac.uk

Apply Now To Become A Fair Access Ambassador!

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 FAIR ACCESS AMBASSADOR PROGRAMME 

September 2022 through to Summer 2023

⭐️ Applications are now open for our Fair Access Ambassador programme ⭐️

Young people sitting chatting in student area

 What is Fair Access? 

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is an inclusive and diverse environment. We want to encourage as many people as possible, regardless of their background, to get involved with the performing and production arts. The Fair Access department at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland run two programmes – Transitions and WACI – alongside our Fair Access Outreach and Partnership programme. 📽 Watch more here.

 The work of Fair Access Ambassadors 

Our Ambassadors work alongside our staff to help promote and provide information on opportunities around entering into the performing and production arts and our Fair Access activities and events within their local schools and communities. In return, our Ambassadors gain experience within the arts sector, working with people, and developing teamwork and communication skills alongside bespoke training opportunities.

 About you! 

The Ambassador programme is aimed at those aged 16+ who are passionate about the performing and production arts. You will meet the WACI eligibility criteria or be a current Transitions student. Checking your emails regularly, having good knowledge in social media, clear communication skills and being comfortable in social situations are an advantage.

 When will I need to be available? 

Aside from normal Ambassador activities, you will be available to attend our Ambassador meetings either at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland or via Zoom:

▪️ Residential Weekend: 2 – 4 September
▪️ Meetings: 20 Nov 22, 18 Feb 23 and 17 Jun 23.

 Sounds good, where / how do I sign up? 

Our application form will ask you to fill in your personal details and write a short response to the following questions:

▪️ Why are the arts important?
▪️ How would you promote the arts within your community to young people?
▪️ Why and how would you commit to being a Fair Access Ambassador?

*Alternatively, you can attach a short video (2-3 mins) that answers the questions above.

 Completing you application 

To complete your application we ask that you provide a reference from someone you know who is involved in the arts. This can be a teacher, tutor, community practitioner etc.

Get in touch 

If you require further information or have any questions, get in touch with the team at: fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

Rosina Bonsu Bursaries

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 FUNDING FOR EARLY CAREER

CHOREOGRAPHERS AND DANCE ARTISTS 

Deadline: 16 Feb 2022

The Work Room & Barrowland Ballet are seeking to support two choreographers or dance artists at an early stage of their career. This new initiative is part of Creative Scotland’s Youth Arts Bursaries programme, funded by the Scottish Government to help talented young people recognising the challenges being faced through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Woman dancing with props in studio.

The bursaries will provide emerging choreographers and dance artists, aged 18 – 24 years with paid time and the wrap-around support from both organizations, to instigate and develop their own creative projects.

The bursaries have been named in honour of Rosina Bonsu who died in 2020, to mark her incredible influence on dance in Scotland. Rosina was an inspired dance artist, choreographer, and educator who generously nurtured young artists throughout her career.

Each bursary will be for 6 months. The format will be flexible to accommodate other work or personal commitments but could be delivered 2 days a week, or intensive blocks, or equivalent.  Given the particular expertise of Barrowland Ballet, it is anticipated that the artists projects (or one of the projects) will have a focus on work with children & young people, and/ or embedding a socially-engaged approach to participatory dance making, and/or dance for camera.

Please note that this is an external opportunity.
For further information and to apply, please visit: Rosina Bonsu Bursaries

 

Applications for 2022/23 Are Open!

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

Applications are now open for our funded Transitions programme where students receive support to kick start their journey in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Over the next few weeks and months, you’ll be able to hear from our students and alumni on what it has meant to them to be part of the Transitions programme. First up we feature some of our music students and alumni.

Young woman sitting in front of an electronic piano. Looking away smiling.
📸 Robbie Mcfadzean

We recommend that students apply as soon as possible in order for applications to be considered for 2022/23 entry. In order to guarantee consideration for an Autumn 2022 start, applications need to be submitted by the closing dates below:

  • Music: 7 February 2022
  • Acting & Musical Theatre: 28 March 2022
  • Film & Production: 30 May 2022

Head over to our ‘Apply’ page to apply and find out more.

If you have any questions about your application, you can contact us on: transitions@rcs.ac.uk

Pre-Juniors Movement Workshop at Blackfriars Primary School

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

RCS dance tutor Suzanne Shanks recently delivered taster workshops in creative movement to 150 young people at Blackfriars Primary School in the Gorbals.  

Group of young people sitting on an assembly floor stretching their toes.

Suzanne said: ‘Highlights of the day were being able to see so many boys doing well…there’s a little bit of a barrier in the West of Scotland – the attitude of ‘boys don’t dance’ still very much exists, so it was so lovely to see them relax and enjoy parts of the class. I had several boys put their hand up to demonstrate exercises like skipping and the musicality tasks.  It was so great to see.’   

One teacher commented, ‘The session was good for [pupils’] mindfulness, breathing, balance and core’ and one of the young people said, ‘We practised our hand co-ordination, and it was very hard, but I kept practising it at home actually, and now I can do it!’ and another pupil told us, ‘I like that we got to dance freestyle and do whatever we wanted to!’ 

We are now inviting a number of pupils and their family to further taster workshops at Wallace Studios and hopefully can offer Transitions places at Pre Juniors! Well done to everyone who got involved!

Transitions Mini Open Day: Dance

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

Transitions Mini Open Day: Dance

When: Sat 3 April, 2pm
Where: Online via Zoom
Who:  Open Access for those aged 7 – 15 interested in dance –  we are however especially keen to welcome people who are Transitions or WACI eligible.

Transitions are delighted to be offering two free taster workshops for young people keen on Dance:

The Ballet session is for 7 to 11-year-olds – this will be a fun movement class that will include elements of ballet and creative dance. There will be a focus on musicality and free movement which will allow our young people to explore dancing in their own expressive and creative way. No experience is necessary to participate in this online session, it would suit any young person with an interest in dance.

The Contemporary Dance session is for 12 to 15-year-olds – this workshop is all about expressing emotion through organic movements and unrestricted ideas. Incorporating elements of all styles of dance, Contemporary is an exciting fusion that allows students to work through powerful and emotional routines. This session will cover a range of techniques, including Cunningham and Release, making for an exciting and varied taster session.

Watch our short video below about Transitions for Pre-Juniors:

Book now: Click here to take you to the booking form.

Watch Our Fair Access Expo Live Sessions!

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

The Fair Access Team would like to extend a warm thanks to everyone who virtually attended our recent Fair Access Expo.

It was a bit different this year –  however, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. We’re glad so many of you found it useful. For those who couldn’t make it along on the day, our microsite contains a recording of the live sessions ready to watch back. 

Image of a website in various device screens.

Have you ever wanted to know more about Fair Access at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, including information on the Transitions and WACI Programmes? Are looking for advice in studying or working in the performing arts?

Why not head over to our microsite now to watch back our live sessions:

  • Meet The Teams, Transitions and WACI
  • Industry Interview, with Laura Waddell and Graeme Smilie
  • Student Life, a showcase and Q&A (Content Warning! Swearing)

You can also: 

  • watch pre-recorded videos from students and professionals 
  • hear from the Assistant Principal and Fair Access Manager at RCS
  • watch our Fair Access Virtual Band perform
  • find links to information on UCAS and UCAS Conservatoires, 
  • links to funding information from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)
  • direct links to our programme websites

Again, thanks to everyone from all the team!

Visit the Fair Access Expo microsite here:

🌐 rcs.ac.uk/fair-access-expo

Rhythm is a Dancer

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

When: Mon 9 Nov, 5-5:40pm

Who: 7-11 year olds interested in performing arts, especially dance and music 

Where: Online

Musicians and Dancers! Take part in Dawn and Quee’s ‘Rhythm is a Dancer’ session, where we will be using moves to learn more about timing, finding the groove and adding in fun and funky swings. 

Poster for an event featuring young people dancing.

The session will be a live webinar on Zoom and streamed live on our Facebook page. 

Click here to register your interest.

Fair Access Expo, Bookings Now Open!

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

WHEN: Sun 25 October 11am – 3:30pm

WHERE: Online via Zoom (Participants will be sent information via email)

We know how daunting it can be pursuing a career in the creative industries, especially when no one you know has done it before. The Fair Access Expo offers an opportunity for you and your family or carers to receive support and advice about the educational and professional journey you are about to embark on.

  •   Meet the WACI and Transitions teams 
  •   Hear from those in the Creative Industries
  •   Hear from our current students
  •   Get involved in our interactive workshop

If you are a Transitions students or WACI pupil, you with your family, friends or carers are warmly invited to our Fair Access Expo. All members of your household are encouraged to join in!

This is event is free to attend but booking is essential.

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Bookings are now closed

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Booking Deadline: Fri 23 October

If you have any question please feel free to contact us by emailing: WACI@rcs.ac.uk