18th November 2020

Our Youth Engagement Projects in Ballymoney, Belfast and Dungannon are all continuing to meet either in-person or online. 

Recently they made three short films which will be released shortly.  The films are to add to the dancers time-capsules which also contain a podcast and a slideshow of photos and drawings.

If you would like to join us please get in touch, no experience is necessary.

Wednesdays in Dungannon – Sutemos (11-21yrs) Suteminis (7-11yrs)

Fridays in Ballymoney – Alternative Energies (11-21yrs) Alternatives (7-11yrs)

Saturdays in Belfast – Belfast Boys (9-14yrs)

11th November 2020

Connie from our Young Carers dance project in Mid Ulster and Allana from Barnardo’s spoke with the Steve Wright radio show about what it is like to be a young carer and how funding from Children in Need has made a positive impact in the lives of young carers.

Connie participated in the Mid Ulster dance film project using dance as a means to express what life is like as a young carer.

Of the dance film project with DU Dance NI, Allana said ” Their confidence has come up, friendships have been built and even the feedback from parents has been that this is actually making a difference”

To hear more of their interview click the link below (interview begins at 1.47)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000nzz8

3rd November 2020

“I was never so aware of the importance of the exchange of energy in a workshop between facilitator and participants, that energy is tangible and matters “ Mags Byrne

20th October 2020

Everyone at DU Dance (NI) would like to say a huge thank you to Kieran Lambe who has been an invaluable member of our team. Starting off in March 2019 as an admin assistant, he then took the lead on marketing and social media as well as assisting on projects, events and our big move to the Crescent Arts Centre.

We would like to wish Kieran all the best on his return to Queens University to undertake a Masters Degree.

16th October 2020

Culture Night 2020 may have looked a little different this year but we were just as delighted to be a part of it.

In Culture Night Belfast, we showcased “Back to the Wall” an intergenerational film choreographed by Royston Maldoom. To see this work and the work of other companies showcased click here:

https://www.culturenightbelfast.com/category/cnb-online-2020/showcase/

In Culture Night Dungannon, the Sutemos Youth Engagement Project were delighted to showcase their piece “Dreams” which they created during lockdown. The film went out over the Hill of the O’Neill & Ranfurly House Arts and Visitor Centre’s social media with over 1,000 views on the Culture Night weekend.

6th August 2020

We have been giving members of our Youth Engagement Projects a voice with a podcast project exploring their experiences of life in lockdown.

As part of the project these young people have been reflecting on what they have learned about themselves, how they have been passing the time, the challenges they have faced, their hopes for the future and more.

Our Artistic Director Mags Byrne attended the Virtual Trauma Summit on 22nd and 23rd June 2020 as part of our ongoing research project exploring trauma.

The summit was presented by Action Trauma and featured world-leading experts.

Watch this space for news about the research project as it develops over the coming months.

To mark World Indigenous Day you can watch ‘Out of Place’ as part of Virtual Féile 2020. ‘Out of Place’ is a story of a people accustomed to adversities and forced migration to unfamiliar realms. Between leaving, farewells, arriving, yearning and hope, to uprisings, incursions and more, one keeps searching for freedom in times dominated by occupation, consumerism and fanaticism. Youth are torn apart between the desire to stay or leave, where do they feel out of place?

You can register to watch ‘Out of Place’ for free here. The virtual screening will take place at 4:30PM on Sunday 9th August 2020.

The young people from our Youth Engagement Projects have been keeping active and connected during lockdown with Manic Monday Discos.

These discos have allowed members of our various groups to join together (albeit virtually) in fun sessions facilitated by our leaders Janie, Sean and Sheena.

Ahead of the discos we also posted out Connection envelopes filled with personal messages and goodies to all our participants.

Members of our Youth Engagement Projects have been busy putting together a collection of photos documenting their personal experiences of lockdown: from time spent with family (including furry friends) to catching up on studies, to celebrating birthdays and everything in between.

The collection of images will be sealed away as a ‘time capsule’ – allowing the young people to look back on these times in the future.