Brighton and Hove’s Three Score Dance Company for the over 60’s limbers up for 2012!
Following a successful funding campaign earlier in 2011, South East Dance is delighted to announce the official
formation of Three Score Dance Company. The ambition to create a performance company that offers contemporary
dance opportunities for men and women aged 60+ has been made possible with funding from The Big Lottery Fund.
Three Score Dance Company is the vision of two local women, Saskia Heriz and Christina Thompson, both of whom
have been inspired by the work of The Company of Elders, a dance company for the over 60’s resident at the
internationally renowned Sadler's Wells Theatre in London. Saskia and Christina approached leading dance
development organisation South East Dance about establishing a similar company based in Brighton and with their
guidance the company has transitioned from idea to reality in the space of just 18 months.
Three Score Dance Company have worked with South East Dance to appoint local dance artist Jason Keenan-Smith as
Rehearsal Director, and are delighted to have been offered a home at Brighton Dome, with technique classes and
rehearsals taking place there every Monday morning.
“It is such a great achievement to have secured funds from the Big Lottery Fund to form Three Score Dance Company. I
can’t wait to see what the company members achieve under the direction of Jason and look forward to South East
Dance continuing to support the company throughout the project and beyond”.
Kirsty Sulston, Programme Producer at South East Dance
Interest in the company has been very high with more than 35 local residents applying for a place in the company. A
total of 20 men and women were selected from a process that included both a written application and a practical
audition. The new company will work with Jason in the coming months to develop their technical and creative skills in
preparation for working with a professional choreographer in spring 2012. The company hope to commission three
choreographers to create work for them in the next 12 months, and will prepare for a premiere performance at the
Brighton Dome Pavilion Theatre in the summer.
“Besides the social and fulfilling aspect of producing collaborative creative work, I just know we can dance our way
towards improved health and happiness”.
Saskia Heriz, founding member of Three Score Dance Company
Although many of the company members have had no prior dance training, their wealth of life experience brings a
unique quality to their work. The company is very keen to offer dance opportunities to those people who were not chosen
for the company during the selection process, and additional places for non-company members will be offered in weekly
technique classes and one-off workshops with guest teachers.
Click here to download the pdf version of the press release.
www.southeastdance.org.uk