Liverpool’s world dance specialists “Movema” are preparing to launch their online dance challenge to get young people dancing away the blues.
The team behind Movema’s Unlock the Box youth outreach programme – funded by BBC Children In Need and Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership – have been busy changing their approach to ensure they can still reach out to young people during lockdown.
Last year the dance company reached out to 334 young people in Liverpool and Knowsley through dance activities that encouraged bringing different young people together to learn about each other and the communities in which they live.
Young people explore different cultures and languages through World In a Box, Movema’s innovative and fun resource, and get the opportunity to perform and train as youth dance leaders.
Although dance classes are now going to be online, Movema are really excited about how this can expand their reach and provide an avenue of self expression, connectivity and an opportunity to learn something new and fun during times of isolation.
For this project, Movema are working with NeuroLove, an organisation created to support young people (especially Looked After young people), to maintain their emotional and physical wellbeing at a time when stress and anxiety levels are high for everyone. As part of the programme, Movema are delivering weekly virtual dance sessions to respond to young peoples likes and to help them structure their day.
Movema are also teaming up with Kinship Carers Liverpool, a charity who support people who look after a family member’s child or friend’s child in their own home, on a full time basis. Through this partnership the Liverpool dance company are able to reach out to young people who are experiencing complex trauma and transition.
The online programme will allow Movema to connect with twenty neighbourhoods that they have reached out to over the last 6 years, as well as developing new and existing partnerships to create a youth lead programme for young people in the North west.
Movema will be launching their dedicated youth dance programme in June, releasing weekly content via Movema World dance YouTube Channel, www.youtube.com/user/MovemaDance.
