Liverpool's Movema thank Children In Need for 6 years of support

World Dance company Movema are delighted to be celebrating Children in Need this week following six years of financial support through the grant scheme.

Over the past six years over 1000 young people from across Merseyside have taken part in world dance sessions in schools, youth centres and groups learning about different cultures, celebrating diversity and sharing the joy of taking part in dance. Those involved have performed at some of the cities leading cultural events including Africa Oyé, Brouhaha Carnival, Chinese New Year and Light Night. Along the way we have delivered regular weekly sessions in centres, holiday camps and dance battles and performances.

Movema. Pic – David Leech

Movema’s artists are currently delivering the final series of sessions through these challenging times we find ourselves in. The sessions have been delivered face to face, in covid secure settings and via online platforms in order to try and maintain some normality and structure to the lives of young people in our city region. We are working with young people in Liverpool and Knowsley to address their experiences of COVID-19, the Black Lives Matter Movement and their understanding of migration and the lives of refugees through diverse dance styles.

Unlock the box aims to improve the lives of young people through increasing self esteem and confidence, increasing physical activity and removing barriers to access cultural experiences.

Project coordinator Paul Doyle said:

“Now more than ever the work that we are doing is vitally important as young people have faced the biggest disruption to everyday life in living memory. Opportunities, access to arts and culture and the chance to discover and learn through dance has been taken away from them for a sustained period of time. We are delighted to be delivering in the heart of communities once again sharing our love of dance with young people and helping them make sense of the world they live in”

This is our final series of sessions as part of a 6 year youth dance outreach programme funded by BBC Children in Need and we will be working with young people in Liverpool and Knowsley to address their experiences of COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter Movement through diverse dance styles.

There is still time for young people to engage with Unlock the Box as we have a weekly online dance session delivered via zoom. In these fun, friendly classes you will learn specially choreographed dance routines from around the world, that have be made accessible for all ages and abilities to join. Classes include a warm up, learning choreography in a cool and accessible way whilst working with colourful props and creating a great workout to world beats.