The Bicycle dance project, involving blind and partially sighted people, hope their public sharing in Wandsworth will spawn future opportunities.
The creative force behind a bicycle dance project involving blind and partially sighted people hope their public sharing in Wandsworth next month will spawn opportunities for the future.
‘Tandem Ballet’ forms part of the Big Dance week, from July 6 to 12, and the results of several weeks of research will be on show at Battersea Sports Centre on July 10 at 3:15pm.
The project, partially funded by Wandsworth Council, explores ideas of movement and music, theatrical image and participants’ experiences of cycling.
“The idea came out of a conversation I was having with someone who works at St Dunstans (now Blind Veteran UK),” said creative director Karen Poley. “The philosophy of the place is that nothing is impossible.”
With little time and just six bikes, borrowed from Linden Lodge School, the main focus for the participants, both partially sighted and sighted, is experimenting and having fun.
“They are all in it for very different reasons,” Karen said. “Some have dance experience. Also it’s a social thing. They are getting out and meeting new people.”
Karen said the most surprising aspect of the research process was the vision awareness training.
“It was such a revelation about what people have to deal with,” she said. “Then you see the people that we’ve met and they are all really independent. It gives you huge respect for them.
“It’s been a really enlightening process. We’re about half way through. I won’t tell you what happened, but there was a real breakthrough in the last rehearsal that everyone got really, really excited about.”
With a mix of partners including Pocklington Resource Centre, Merton Vision and the Arts Council, Karen hopes that the public sharing will open up long-term possibilities including a potential show next year.
For more information visit www.bicycleballet.co.uk.
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