The STAND - new dance studio comes on stream
West Dunbartonshire Council is delighted to bring a new cultural venue on stream at a time where concerns over the health and fitness of women and girls are a regular feature in the media. But both the male and female population of West Dunbartonshire will benefit from such a high quality facility on their doorstep.
The aim is not only to improve the health of citizens with access to a wide range of classes, but that dancers young and old will have great fun getting fitter. With the support of professional dance teachers the programme will help already talented dancers realize their dreams to dance as a career with proposed links to dance accreditation courses in the schools and in colleges nearby.
The Stand is based in the campus of St Andrew’s High School and will be used to support excellence in dance in this school and it’s soon-to-be-partner-school, St Columba’s High. On term-time weekdays the studio will be populated by school pupils with an interest, aptitude or talent for dance in all it's forms.
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In the evenings, weekends and during the holiday period this use will transfer to benefit the community where a range of classes for all ages and abilities will be on offer throughout the year. In its first two years of operation the class fees will be subsidised and all classes will cost just £1.00. |
The studio will also exist to support career pathways for people interested in a future in the creative and cultural industries. Discussions about new dance courses and connections to further education colleges are in the pipeline. A fledgling youth dance company, Project W, is also to be based in The STAND. Already 11 of the best young dancers in West Dunbartonshire have successfully auditioned to join.
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The Stand has been made a reality through capital funding from the Big Lottery Fund in partnership with West Dunbartonshire Council, and revenue funding similarly through the Big Lottery Fund and West Dunbartonshire Council with additional partners in the delivery of the community dance programme: West Dunbartonshire Partnership, Scottish Arts Council and NHS Greater Glasgow. |
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Dance qualification
The Stand will be working with training providers to establish new accreditation courses in dance for both adults and young people. These will be available in August 2006.
The first scheme on offer will be the Dance Leadership Awards. This is an opportunity for young people (aged 14+) and adults to develop basic knowledge of dance as well as the skills required to lead dance workshops of their own. These classes will require commitment and motivation but will benefit participants in many ways in terms of both health and employment.
For further information or to express an interest in these schemes, please contact Rowan Gillespie, Dance Motivator on 0141 952 9409. |
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Funded by National Lottery through the Scottish Arts Council | |