Gloucestershire Dance and The Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury have recently revealed that they're to be part of the Associate Artists Scheme, which has recently been devised and implemented by Dance South West. It's an Arts Council funded consortium of dance agencies working together to encourage more people to make, watch and take part in dance activities. There are currently five Associate Artists in the UK, based in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Gloucestershire. Each of the counties has their 'own' dancer, based at a local theatre and all are acclaimed professional choreographers and dancers, many leading their own companies. The scheme links an individual artist, a venue, a county dance agency and a community, and will help the chosen artist in the development of their career by offering support from all the organisations involved and encouraging recognition both within the county and hopefully at a national level. Dipisha Patel The artist selected by Dance South West to collaborate with the Roses and Gloucestershire Dance is Cheltenham based Dipisha Patel. Dipisha specialises in the South Asian style of Bharatanatyam (Indian classical dance), Indian Folk and Creative Dance and has performed and taught in Cheltenham, Gloucester, Birmingham, Cirencester and London over the last eighteen years. She'll be spending time working at the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury and hopes to get young people dancing Asian-style. Aims The main aims of the Associate Artists project are to raise the profile of dance in the region, to work with the artist on developing their creative skills and to increase dance related educational opportunities within the county in the form of workshops and demonstrations. In this scheme the dancers have an opportunity to create and perform, but also learn from the theatre management how to run a business and market their work. Everyone else has the chance to learn about, or simply enjoy, the magic, beauty and versatility of dance.
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Dipisha Patel has been chosen as Gloucestershire's representative to encourage more people to make, watch and take part in dance activities.
