TYPE OF WORK
Dance theatre performance and participatory projects

TARGET GROUPS
Offenders, young people, children, adults and people with physical or sensory needs. The underlying emphasis is on ownership, empowerment and inclusion for all participants.

GEOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT
UK, North America

COMPANY POLICY
To create new dance theatre work of quality that is versatile and in demand for 'multi-scale' touring. Underpinning the work is a long standing and continuing intention to balance a commitment to artistic adventure with a desire to be exciting and stimulating to a broad audience. Motionhouse tours widely to traditional and unusual venues, inside and outside, and performances are accompanied by a wide ranging programme of participatory activity in a huge range of community, special educational and custodial, as well as mainstream, education environments. Motionhouse delivers dance projects which can inspire and fundamentally challenge the attitudes of their participants. It has both delivered, and trained others, in the delivery of ACD projects.

SCALE OF PROJECTS
Number of practitioners: 1-6
Number of participants: 6-100
Preparation time: 1 day - 1 year
Contact time: 1 day - 1.5 years

PERMANENT STAFF

Louise Richards, Executive Director
Kevin Finnan, Artistic Director
Paul Gilligan, General Manager
Wendy Blomfield, Marketing Officer

Airborne (UK, 2001)
A performance project for disaffected young men drawn from the youth sector. Through intensive workshops the aim was to create, perform and tour the boys' own performance work to their peers - with a focus on ownership, changing self image and challenging gender pre-conceptions.

Different Dancers, Similar Motion (UK, 1989)
Integrated dance project for people with and without physical and sensory disabilities. The aim was to facilitate every dancer's own expression through movement, overcoming ignorance, prejudices and pre-conceptions. This was the start of many such projects.

HMP Grendon (UK, 1990)
A month-long project housed in the therapeutic community at Grendon Prison combining workshops, creative exploration and performance of the men's choreography. This project paved the way for the subsequent development of the company's work in custodial settings.

Napton Dance Trail (UK, 2000)
An integrated site-specific performance project for young people with and without special needs.

Dancing Inside (2003/04)
An 18-month project housed in the therapeutic community at Dovegate Prison, combining workshops, the creation of the men's work, and subsequent performances, staff training and Motiionhouse performances in the prison.

Dancing inside will also be the focal point for the first summer arts festival at Dovegate Prison in 2003. (UK, 2003/04

Louise Richards
Motionhouse
Unit 13
Althorpe Industrial Estate
Leamington Spa CV31 1NQ

T +44 (0) 1926 887052
F +44 (0) 1926 316734

E info@motionhouse.co.uk
W www.motionhouse.co.uk

“Behind the excellent performance for parents and carers was a process of working with children of all ages and abilities which was a joy to watch unfold…”
Headteacher, Clapham Terrace Primary School

“Motionhouse’s work in prisons provides a unique extension to prisoners’ experience of themselves and others. The opportunities for enhanced self worth and esteem are invaluable in motivating prisoners to continue the difficult task of self exploration and pro-social change.”
Roland Woodward, Director of Therapy, Dovegate Prison (formerly Principal Psychologist, Grendon Prison)

“Motionhouse provides new ways to develop self expression and resolution of emotional stumbling blocks in unexpected ways for prisoners trying to move on.”
Roland Woodward, Director of Therapy, Dovegate Prison

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