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Free workshops and performances inspired by London 2012 Games on Friday 13^th and Saturday 14^th July at Mac Birmingham.

5 July 2012 – People with a learning disability in Birmingham have been given the opportunity to take part in a two-day festival on Friday 13^th and Saturday 14^th July 2012, through an innovative dance project inspired by the London 2012 Games.

We Dance is a grassroots dance scheme which has seen hundreds of people with a learning disability take part in dance workshops across Birmingham this year. The two-day festival, which takes place at mac birmingham, will showcase the work of national dance companies and local disabled community groups, including Freefall’s first ever performance of their new Olympic-themed dance.

Members of the public are encouraged to take part, and Saturday’s programme will feature free workshops for people with a learning disability to try out different dance styles.

There will also be a stunning display of dance costumes and a free exhibition of ‘Dance for Camera’ films, produced by a group of young film makers with a learning disability, which will be screened throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games on the BBC Big Screen sites throughout the UK.

The workshops are free of charge and open to the public and tickets for performances are just £5. Tickets for the We Dance festival can be booked via mac birmingham’s website: www.macarts.co.uk/event/we-dance-festival

Or telephone: 0121 446 3232.

We Dance is part of Dancing for the Games, which is inspired by London 2012 and part of the Cultural Olympiad in the West Midlands. It has been funded by Legacy Trust UK, which is creating a lasting impact from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by funding ideas and local talent to inspire creativity across the UK, as well as Arts Council England and Advantage West Midlands.

The project is led by learning disability charity Mencap, in partnership with Birmingham Royal Ballet, Freefall Dance Company, mac birmingham, Fox Hollies School and Performing Arts College and Midland Mencap.

We Dance has been designed to enable people with a learning disability in Birmingham and the surrounding area to be creative, challenge perceptions and improve their health and wellbeing. There are over 20,000 people with a learning disability in Birmingham.

People with a learning disability are one of the most excluded groups from sport and leisure activities, with participation falling in recent years. There are significant barriers to people with a learning disability engaging in leisure activities, with 17% reporting that they are not able to afford a hobby or sport*. Leisure services that are provided are often inaccessible or do not meet the needs of disabled people.

Lee Fisher, Head of Creative Learning and former Soloist with Birmingham Royal Ballet, is also Artistic Director of Freefall Dance Company, which provides a training and performing platform for highly gifted young people of school leaving age, with severe learning disabilities.

Fisher says: “We are incredibly excited about showcasing this ambitious London 2012 inspired-project. The films, live performances, workshops and exhibitions are a fantastic opportunity for hundreds of people with a learning disability to share their passion for dance and help build the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

We hope that We Dance will challenge perceptions about what people with a learning disability are able to do, and introduce new audiences to the benefits and pleasure that comes from creating, performing and appreciating dance.”

Naomi Temple, Programme Manager for Dancing for the Games says: “It’s fantastic that through We Dance, hundreds of people with a learning disability have had the opportunity to work with and perform alongside professional artists and connect with London 2012 in their own community. The two day festival at Mac Birmingham on 13th and 14th July 2012 is set to be a brilliant event, with performances from Freefall, the acclaimed integrated dance company Stopgap, and showcase performances by local learning disabled community groups.”

You can book tickets for the We Dance festival online at: www.macarts.co.uk/event/we-dance-festival

Or by calling: 0121 446 3232.

To find out more about We Dance, please visit: http://www.artspider.org.uk/projects/6