Partner with us on ‘Pitch to Stage’
14th October 2026
We are looking for three partners for our ‘Pitch to Stage’ performance project which will connect boys and young men by bringing dance and sport together. Do you know any sports clubs or groups in Newtownards / Ards area working regularly with boys and young men aged 7 – 18 years that might be interested?
We’re open to different physical practices — football, rugby, GAA, boxing, martial arts, gymnastics, weightlifting and similar.
The project will start with the sport when, over two dedicated sessions, a DU Dance (NI) artist will observe how the group trains and then work with the young people to translate elements of their existing physical practice into movement.
Following these sessions there will be two larger joint workshop days bringing all participating groups together with our Belfast Boys group to share and develop material together culminating in performances in Belfast and Newtownards.
The partnership will run November 2026 to March 2027.
If you are interested in working with us or know someone who might be, please do get in touch on info@dudanceni.com or complete the short form that can be found HERE
Deadline for expressions of interest is 30 October 2026.
This project is made possible with funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trace – Reconciliation Fund.
A full list of Q&As on the partnership can be found below.
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Q. What time commitment is needed?
A. The two dedicated workshops will be arranged around each group’s existing training/session timetable and the workshop length is flexible. Dates for the two joint days will be agreed in advance with partners.
Q. Who leads the activity?
A. DU Dance (NI) provides the dance artist who leads the creative activity. Groups are not expected to deliver dance themselves.
Q. What support do our group leaders receive?
A. Leaders are involved as paid collaborators. They will have opportunities to observe Belfast Boys at The MAC, share their own sporting practice with our artist, and be paid for their time supporting project workshops and joint activity.
Q. Where does it take place?
A. Dedicated activity happens in the sports groups’ own spaces. Shared activity will take place in Newtownards, potentially at Ards Arts Centre, with additional activity and performance in Belfast.
Q. Who is this for?
A. Primarily boys and young men aged 7–18. No previous dance or performance experience is needed.
Q. What are the outputs?
A. Short pieces of movement work created from each group’s physical practice; two all-group workshop days; informal and/or public sharings; and performances in Newtownards and Belfast. One partner group may also have the opportunity to perform at our UNANIMOUS festival in Belfast in April. Also selected parts of the process and performances will be documented by an experienced, IFTA-nominated filmmaker.
Q. How do I find out more?
A. Contact info@dudanceni.com or fill out the Expression of Interest form HERE