Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report :

1. Executive Summary:

1.1 To approve the nominations and awards for the 2009/10 Springboard dance bursary scheme.

2. Issues Covered in Report:

2.1 Evaluation of pilot dance bursary scheme June - October 2009.

2.2 Outline of substantive scheme based on evaluation and consultation with other CCRA grant giving departments.

2.3 Nominations for the 2009/10 award recipients identified as part of the Springboard dance bursary application and audition process.

3. Contextual Information:

3.1 In December 2008 the Executive Member for Policy and Resources approved Decision 471 to revise the dance bursary scheme operated by the Arts Service. The scheme had been in operation for many years and focused on traditional ballet training to elite level with other dance forms as subsidiary. It was agreed that this was no longer representative of the much wider dance field in operation today, with new forms of dance expression derived from the development and visibility of the range of diverse communities in the UK.

3.2 The County Council consulted with Arts Council England, Youth Dance England, the National Youth Dance agency, Hampshire Dance - County Dance Agency and The Point specialist dance promoter in Hampshire in the development of the new scheme parameters.

3.3 From June to October 2009 Hampshire Dance ran a pilot dance bursary scheme to test these parameters involving 4 young dancers who had already been identified by Hampshire Dance and The Point to be exceptionally gifted and talented. The pilot scheme combined 1-2-1 mentoring between the young person and a Scheme Co-ordinator, an established freelance dance professional able to signpost the young person to innovative and challenging new training courses. The training courses were then paid for from the bursary funds, up to the value of £500.

The scheme was successful in testing the different ways of supporting and communicating with the young people, finding and booking the training courses and developing/testing the supporting administrative systems for the scheme.

A full evaluation of the pilot scheme was undertaken and the findings have been instrumental in structuring the new scheme.

3.4 A complete scheme has now been developed, which will target resources at the 2 key age groups identified in the previous report:

13 - 18 This is a period of physical and intellectual development where young people demonstrate both talent and potential to perform at an elite level

Post Graduate - immediately after graduation - this is a period of greatest danger of loss to the profession as graduates negotiate an entry into the work place. Given the scale of the employment pool and the level of competition the potential for fall out is high.

The scheme has also been benchmarked against HCC Music and Sports bursaries, which has helped decide the level of award and process of selection.

3.5 The budget for 2009/10 for Dance Bursaries is £20,000.00. This report proposes to commit £8,500.00 to bursary payments. The balance covers £3,000 expended on the Pilot Scheme, up to £2,500.00 on industry training days, £6,000 towards the cost of the Bursee mentor and scheme co-ordinator, the audition and selection process.

4. Key Issues:

4.1 The Springboard 13-18 years scheme offers a bursary of up to £500 and mentoring from the Scheme Co-ordinator for up to 15 young people. The young people have been selected through a written application process combined with a practical audition. The selection has been made by HCC and Hampshire Dance representatives, and in the case of the auditions, recommendations have been made by 3 dance specialists.

4.2 The Springboard Graduates and Young Professionals scheme offers a bursary of up to £1000 and mentoring from the Hampshire Dance Artist Development Co-ordinator for up to 2 candidates. The candidates have been selected through a written application process, participation in a Professional Development workshop and a written Development Plan and interview. The selection has been made by HCC and Hampshire Dance representatives.

4.2.1. Bursaries will be allocated over the period November 2009 - June 2010, with a further evaluation at the end of the scheme.

4.2.2. Each bursee will create a training plan with their scheme contact. This will form part of an agreement and set of conditions for accepting the bursary.

4.2.3. The bursary spend will be monitored, with a maximum of £100 being used for travel expenses and/or supplementary training such as nutrition, strength or flexibility training.

4.2.4. Each bursee will also be required to contribute to dance in Hampshire in some way, through volunteering, teaching or mentoring future bursees.

5. 2009/10 Nomination Process

13-18 years Springboard Scheme

5.1 47 applications were received for the 13-18 Scheme. Of these 2 were male and 45 female, with 33 being shortlisted for a practical audition, based on the strength of their application.

5.2 Of the 33 applicants called to audition, 15 were applying with an interest in ballet, 10 with an interest in contemporary dance, 4 with an interest in street dance and 4 specifying freestyle, Bollywood or tap.

5.3 The applicants took part in group dance workshops based on their preferred style, performing to a panel of 3 dance professionals. From their performances in Technical and Creative exercises, the Panel selected a number of candidates to go forward to the second phase of the audition to perform a solo, an improvisation and have a short interview to discuss their development plans and commitment to pursuing dance as a career.

5.4 17 candidates, who demonstrated the greatest mix of ability, commitment and development potential were selected for nomination, went through to the second phase, of which 13 have been nominated for a bursary.

Graduate and Young Professionals Scheme

5.5 7 applications were received for the Graduates and Young Professionals scheme and all applicants were invited to take part in a professional development day during which they considered how best to express their career development plans. 6 applicants were able to attend.

5.6 Following the development day, all 7 applicants submitted final Development Plans. All of the Plans demonstrated the impact of the training day and how much it had helped the candidates think about their personal development, values and dance practice.

Based on the Plans, 4 applicants were invited to interview as being the strongest candidates.

All 4 candidates attended an interview and Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Dance staff then selected the 2 candidates that are being nominated for a bursary.

6. 2009/10 Nominations

6.1. That bursaries of £500 be awarded to the following 4 street dancers, 5 ballet dancers and 4 contemporary dancers. These 13 young people represent a balance of dance forms, ages and ambitions.

Street: Clare Neave, Imogen Trafford, Imogen Weatherhead and Liam Dawett.

Ballet: Olivia Richmond, Madeline Smith, Grace Fennelly, Holly Reyes-Hughes and Sophie Holt.

Contemporary: Caitlin Cheshire, Kelly Maskell, Oliver Gratton and Becky Pearce.

6.2. That bursaries of £1000 be awarded to the following 2 candidates;

Danielle Jones and Becky Martin

both of whom have demonstrated the clearest Development Plans and aims for supporting and encouraging dance practice in Hampshire.

7. Recommendation:

7.1 It is recommended that:

That awards are made to the 15 young people nominated above for Springboard dance bursaries.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Links to the Corporate Strategy

Integral Appendix B

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS:

1. Equalities Impact Assessment:

No adverse impact on any group of young people has been identified. The scheme is designed to be accessible to the greatest number of people.

2. Impact on Crime and Disorder:

N/A

3. Climate Change:

a) How does what is being proposed impact on our carbon footprint / energy consumption?

· No impact Identified

b) How does what is being proposed consider the need to adapt to climate change, and be resilient to its longer term impacts?

· N/A