International Youth Arts Exchange In July 2005, 48 young people from Jigsaw Dance theatre in Netherton, Dudley exchanged with ArtiXoc in Barcelona and Sort in Catalonia. The second exchange was with South Birmingham College with Youth Action Northern Ireland’s ‘Rainbow Factory’ in Belfast , together they all produced three pieces of drama and dance for this Youth Arts Project. The developing performance pieces were constantly performed at various venues such as The Asian Community centre in Belfast and Sort Town hall. The project was initiated and managed by bayc shaped and produced alongside the Young people, workers and Artists involved.The exchange came from talking with Young People who wanted the opportunity to exchange with other groups internationally to explore culture and identity through Drama and Dance. It fostered their creative skills and artistic energy, through the development of working relationships with their international peers. bayc hosted the return visit for all four groups involved in the Exchange in Birmingham from 8th -18th August 2005. The highlights of their return leg were: · A performance of their final pieces at the Birmingham Symphony Hall on August 12th at 7.30pm · A Drama Conference and Performance broadcast live on the internet at the Orange Studio (broadcast on www.C21vox.tv at 6.30pm) · Project Evaluation on c21vox.com : bayc International youth Arts Project All groups were supported by Youth workers and professional artists such as Round midnight theatre company and Jigsaw Dance theatre to develop their drama and dance pieces. Also the youth workers exchanged their youth work and artistic, social and professional skills to capacity build each organisation in Youth Arts and good practice in youth exchange work. Quotes and Experiences ‘As a student and worker on this project, the biggest learning curve has been about gaining skills, practical and theory of youth arts I can use in the future from the other workers and the participants. Things we think we know already such as understanding different cultures, national identities and ways of life. From a organizational as well as Iv picked up so much , Iv defiantly grown professionally and personally’ Naomi at Rainbow Factory, Belfast I'd never been abroad or on a stage before , so both experiences have changed me, I've a big part in the show and I can speak a little Spanish! Its made me more confident, able to just get in there and try new stuff , if I can get on the stage in the Symphony hall I can do anything! Ill remember this experience forever! ’ Abdi, South Birmingham college. ‘Meeting all these people has been a fantastic, people I'd never get to meet usually, I've learned about Irish and English ways of life as well as some Spanish! We were all just thrown in at the deep end and it wasn’t scary, it was exiting a challenge! Also all the great jobs in Dance and theatre I thought were for other glamorous people I know I can maybe do now, this project will help me follow my dreams.’ Maria, ArtiXoc 'Dreams and hopes that fill our mind a future we all hope to find, Will I be Good enough for my Dreams? If I don’t try and Make them happen , I will never know, lets go!'
An extract from 1-10 the piece of physical theatre devised and performed South Birmingham College.
View the exchange photo gallery
