As part of Reading 2016: Year of Culture, the collective were given £300.00, space, mentoring and two performance opportunities by Dance Reading during Dance November to establish as Reading’s only professional contemporary dance company.
Now further linking to the Reading 2050 vision and Reading’s Cultural and Heritage Strategy Statement of Intent, the Artistic Director closely follows the reimagining and regeneration of the town through her PhD research at University of Reading. Her research focused upon developing a socio-choreographic practice that aimed to identify and address issues around cultural belonging and inclusion within site-specific places in Reading. The company aim to address these issues through an adapted socio-choreographic methodology that will draw upon dance movement psychotherapy and will use social impact measurement for evaluation purposes.
Reside Dance C.I.C. are committed to contributing towards a legacy for Reading beyond the HSHAZ programme and the Artistic Director, who has sat on the Cultural Partnership Board as Dance Representative, is already planning how the company fits into the vision for Reading 2050.
Photograph by Mark Apcar.
