Through various workshops and activities, NEXUS creates the space for young people to connect with themselves, their ideas and with others, through dance. Find out more about each one below!
NEXUS is a five-year programme funded by the Westminster Foundation. Find out more about their incredible work here.
Look out for the NEXUS logo for regular updates across Cheshire Dance channels.
Ancora Dance – Ancora House Countess of Chester and Castle Park
Ancora House School is primarily a medical pupil referral provision based on two sites in Cheshire West and Chester. The hospital site is based at Ancora House, an adolescent mental health inpatient unit, on the Countess of Chester Health Park, and provides education for inpatients at the unit. The NEXUS programme worked with young people onsite to create an open invitation for creativity with a focus on poetry and movement, bringing together Dance Artist, Josie Hepplewhite and Spoken Word Artist, Flick Barry to deliver a series of workshops in the unit.
Ancora Dance also has been happening at Ancora House School’s community site based at Castle Park House, Castle Park, Frodsham. It is commissioned to provide education for young people, who for a range of reasons, are currently unable to access their home school. The NEXUS programme delivered a series of 1 to 1 sessions for young people who have had a range a previous dance experiences. These sessions focussed on the young people having a creative outlet, allowing their voices to be heard and developing new skills. Working with dance artist Rachel Gittins, the young people found new ways to express themselves which benefitted both their mental and physical health.
Step into Capoeira- Theatre Porto
Step into Capoeira is a session for 7 to 11 year olds that are home educated. This session allows the young people to learn a new skill and movement style, develop knowledge of Brazilian culture and connect as a group.
NEXUS Youth Panel – Storyhouse.
The NEXUS youth panel is a small group of young people aged 14 to 21, who meet monthly to help shape the future of NEXUS. There are opportunities to learn more about working in the arts, take part in workshops with industry professionals and take part in a mentoring programme to develop your own aspirations and ideas. The group meets to discuss ideas and develop what the programme might look like in the future.
To apply to be part of the NEXUS youth panel please email emma@cheshiredance.org.
Find out more here: https://www.cheshiredance.org/join-the-nexus-youth-panel-and-shape-the-future-of-nexus/
REWIND – Theatre in the Quarter (Funders Earl of Chester)
Rewind, delivered by Theatre in the Quarter and Cheshire Dance, is an exciting theatre and movement company for young people in the Blacon area of the city. Rewind brings together young people to create new pieces of theatre, music and dance.
In 2026 we will be starting on creating a brand new play which will include writing and performing new songs, lots of dance and plenty of acting and storytelling. We will meet Wednesday evenings from 4pm – 530pm at Dee Point Primary School.
DATES:
January 14th, 21st, 28th
February 4th, 11th,
Half term
March 4th, 11th, 18th
Sharing/Performance
Date TBC we will get details to you as soon as we can – it will be towards end of March.
Anyone with enthusiasm and a commitment to be at all sessions is welcome. Please bring a water bottle and a healthy snack for the break.
What’s different this year?
In addition to this group – we are running in school sessions for one selected group per school involved. Your school will let you know if this effects your child. This is a separate element to this after school club. This means that this year’s performance will bring together class groups from the five Blacon Primary schools and a group from Blacon High school in addition to the core REWIND YOUTH THEATRE. This means there will be roughly 170 children from Blacon performing together. The REWIND YOUTH THEATRE group will have a very important role to play in creating, structuring and framing the show that all the school groups will perform in together!
Filming and Photography
This year we are making a behind the scenes film of the project, please ensure that you have filled out the photo consent part of the paper form or online so we know whether we can include your child in the film. It will not stop them being a full part of the project if consent is not given.
We are supported by the council and the Westminster Foundation as apart of NEXUS youth dance program and so the cost is greatly reduced. Each session will only cost £3.
You may wish to pay weekly, by cash or card at each session, or you can pay the following:
Before half term £15
After Half Term £15
TOTAL £30
Fill in the registration form HERE. Follow the link – select REWIND and select all the dates. Fill in parent/guardian details, then the students’ details. You will not be charged at this point.
If filling in the form digitally is not accessible for you, please feel free to fill in a paper form and return on the first session.
Find out more about the full NEXUS programme at nexus dance.uk!
