What is Dance Connect?

#DanceConnect was a Dance Development Leaders Group (DDLG) West Midlands initiative that explored a creative dance and digital experiment between March – August 2020. It was a participatory project that explored how we can effectively collaborate remotely across borders and boundaries, using movement, creative exchange and mobile devices.

Over 100 individuals came together over zoom to participate in a creative enquiry experience to explore “what kind of collaboration is possible when we can’t be together in the same space?  What new forms of dance are possible and what new dance languages can be developed?  How can working digitally enhance and expand practice, including effective ways to be fully accessible?”

What is Beyond Borders?

Beyond Borders is an ambitious, large-scale region-wide participation project that was developed from #DanceConnect research and development. It is a DDLG project and DanceXchange are the Executive Producers, bringing together 13 dance artists, 13 aspiring young leaders, over 130 young people, digital artists and a variety of specialists to collaborate and produce an original work in response to #OnewithNature.

3 original digital works were presented at Birmingham International Dance Festival in June 2021, with a live site-specific edition being presented at Birmingham International Dance Festival in September 2021.