Warwickshire News Mine

The group of over 20 dancers aged 16 to 21, supported by Warwickshire’s Youth and Community Service and directed by Beingfrank Physical Theatre, will take to the streets on 16 April for a number of live performances inspired by the artist Banksy and demonstrating the impact of child poverty.

Dressed as iconic characters found in Banksy’s graffiti the group will perform short presentations at different sites around the centre of Leamington Spa on the morning of 16 April.

With the aim to raise awareness of the impact of child poverty on society, the dance pieces will convey a loss of innocence and love and reach out to the local community through peaceful demonstration.

Beingfrank’s Artistic Director Dave McKenna and the youngsters have been researching the theme of youth poverty, and developing imagery and choreography for the Banksy inspired Flashmobs for the past five months.

Dave McKenna said: “To be able to develop ideas for a performance over a two year period is a real luxury and the young dancers working on the project are engaging with it really and they are creating interesting, vibrant, engaging choreography”.

Clare Mitchell Arts Development Manager at the county council added:  “It is fantastic to see young people using their creativity to explore the issue of child poverty and raise their concerns with the public.

Warwickshire Youth Service works hard through early intervention to tackle such issues and supports programmes like Godiva Awakes we are able to help young people to become politically aware and make a positive contribution to their communities.”

The work contributes to the Godiva Awakes project which is being developed by Coventry based Imagineer Productions who won the commission to create a large-scale outdoor performance piece that will celebrate the opening of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Godiva Awakes is one of 12 British art commissions to celebrate London 2012 and will be performed next year in the centre of Coventry. It will involve local community groups, including Beingfrank’s performers as well as professional artistes.

Beingfrank are inviting even more Warwickshire young people to take part in the performance at Godiva Awakes, to get involved contact Dave McKenna at beingfrankpt@me.com.

Link to WCC