Pavilion Dance South West (PDSW) has contracted Natasha Player as a Changemaker to strengthen its work with and relevance to African, Caribbean and Indian communities.
Natasha brings with her a wealth of experience and knowledge of working with communities in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and her work as a Changemaker will build on and explore inclusive programming and practices throughout the organisation.
Natasha said:
“This is a valuable opportunity for PDSW to look inwardly and to connect externally with groups, organisations and businesses led by African, Caribbean and Indian communities, and to build on the approaches to inclusive engagement across the organisation. It is a pleasure to be asked to support this process and work with the team at PDSW who are open, willing and value an external viewpoint.”
Natasha initially trained as a dancer, delivering African Caribbean dance in education and community contexts before going on to complete an MA in Arts and Cultural Management, researching the infrastructure for African Caribbean dance in London and Montreal, Canada – which informed her practice as a dancer and independent producer. She has supported organisations such as Umoja Arts Network, Activate Performing Arts and State of Emergency.
Natasha’s work with Bournemouth based Umoja Arts Network and as an independent producer puts her in good stead to connect with BAME communities. Previous projects include Reveal Fashion Show, Highlight Visual Arts Exhibition, and work with national/international dance companies Tavaziva Dance, Sadhana Dance and Caribbean carnival company Rampage.
CEO of PDSW Zannah Doan said:
“The Changemaker role will help to strengthen our relationships with more local people and lead to a 2-way conversation. Our Equality Strategy commits us to ‘Open Doors’, ‘Hold Hands’ and enable people to ‘See Themselves’ here. Natasha’s work will be an important step towards achieving this with the African, Caribbean and Indian communities that live in and near Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. We’re delighted that she is bringing her experience and ideas to help shape our future.”
The changemaker will be in post until July 2019 and will provide consultation and insight to PDSW to feed into its marketing, programming and ways of working.
Natasha can be contacted on: changemaker@pdsw.org.uk
Notes to editors:
More on PDSW
PDSW projects grow from one blueprint: to enable communities to enjoy creativity and wellbeing offered through dance.
We approach people, projects, and places with imagination and ambition.
We believe that dance is for everyone and want all people and bodies to be visible throughout our work.We run dance programmes promoting and supporting the sector across the South West and the wider UK. In our Bournemouth-based venue we present live dance performances from some of the most exciting and innovative companies around, screenings, exhibitions and more than 40 dance classes a week.
Since 2011, PDSW has run an annual Critical Friends Equality Group. The group share their experiences and opinions about PSDW’s performance in terms of equality and diversity, and make suggestions to improve our practice. Our Critical Friends are a broad group of individuals invested in PDSW and it’s future, who represent the 9 protected characteristics according to the Equality Act 2010 and whom join us from arts organisations, community and service providers, participants and local authorities.