PRESSRELEASE12/3/2012 SDTDance Agent for Change post comes to an end.
Caroline Bowditch’s four year post as Scottish Dance Theatre’s (SDT) Dance Agent For Change comes to an end on 22nd March. The project was initiated by former Artistic Director Janet Smith who was interested in breaking down barriers, extending borders in the dance world and exploring new possibilities, creatively, artistically and for the good of culture in Scotland. This ground breaking role, funded by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland aimed to increasethe number of disabled people involved in dance in Scotland, including those entering training or the dance profession. During her 4 years, Caroline has interacted with over 25,000people in workshops, talks and performances not only in Scotland but in the rest of the UK and beyond. “[Caroline’s] role has been influential personally and professionally. It demonstrated that a Disabled Dance artist can be professionally acknowledged and professionally valued. The role has been invaluable for young people…as a role model and advocate. There is no doubt that disabled people have their own voice, who better than to advocate for change than someone who knows how much that change in reality makes to an individuals life and in turn to the community.” Dance Agent for Change Collaborator
During her time in Dundee, Caroline has co-directed and performed in two works for SDT:The Long and the Short of It , with Tom Pritchard and NQRwith Janet Smith and Marc Brew. Caroline also started an inclusive dance class; ‘ Do Your Thing’ which runs at Dundee Rep on Saturday mornings, this classwill continue to run with a variety of guest teachers. In October 2011 Caroline won the Creative Scotland Award for the Support of Talent at the Arts & BusinessAwards. This award honours an individual or organisation that has made a special contribution to nurturing creative talent in Scotland. In January 2012,the culmination of the Dance Agent for Change post saw SDT organise the Pathways to the Profession Symposium in Dundee which brought industry experts and delegates from across the world together to discussthe challenges faced by disabled people trying to make a career in the performing arts. Although Caroline’s post is coming to an end, SDTand Dundee Rep are committed to continuing to strive for equality in the performing arts and will continue to be a fore runner in this field. Caroline says: 'It has been a complete pleasure to work with the team at SDTover the last 4 years. I feel we have achieved far more with this role than I could every have planned for and based on the
knowledge, experience and commitment that remains within the company, I leave this post confident that the work will continue without me.'
Caroline’s next stop will be London where she will work on her most ambitious project to date Leaving Limbo Landing , a project about journey, placement, displacement, settling, arrivals and departures. This Unlimited commission is part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad and will be a multi artform outdoor touring production that will be included in Creative Scotland's Made in Scotland programme at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival. ENDS For more information, imagesor an interview with Caroline contact Vicky Wilson, Pressand Marketing Officer on 01382342600/ vwilson@dundeereptheatre.co.uk
The Dance Agent for Change post was funded by Creative Scotland and The National Lottery
Leaving Limbo Landing is funded by the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, The National Lottery legacy Trust, Arts Council England and East London Dance. Listings Do Your Thing Dundee Rep Theatre, Saturdays, 10am, ÂŁ 4 , pay on the door Suitable for ages8+ Do Your Thing is taught in an inclusive surrounding, pleasecontact Dundee Rep Box Office if you any specific accessrequirements Leaving Limbo Landing PREMIERE7th July, London Fields, Shorditch 28-29th July, Merchant City Festival, Glasgow 8-12th August, Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh 8-9th September, Southbank Centre, London