Company Chameleon

Last week we held our scratch night for at our home studio in Openshaw⭐

Reflecting on a busy Autumn season after the event, our Access & Development Producer, Emmy, said "Autumn 2023 was a gorgeous season of artist development here at Company Chameleon. launched with three NW dance artists and companies awarded time, money and space to create and present the beginnings of brand-new works.

We've hosted dance jams and visiting companies, as well as holding space for skills development through our Beyond the Studio series.

Looking ahead to January, we're gearing up for another season of supporting and developing the brilliant talent here in the North West, so keep an eye out for what's coming next!"

Our Co-Artistic Director, Kevin, has been invited to teach at the Kalakeli Movement Arts in India early next year, and if you’re a dance or movement artist interested in deepening your practice, then you can join him!

Kevin said, “It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet fellow creative and curious souls, to feel part of a global community, to make new friends and collaborative connections.

All the brilliant activity is framed by the spirit and ethos of the intensive, which for me is demonstrated by the support, care and love given to everyone to develop and take their practice to the next level.”

Read more in the Q&A with Kev on our web: https://bit.ly/3MUOrZh

(Deadline to apply 1st Dec)

Yesterday we hosted the project launch and networking event for at our home studio in Openshaw!

Project Manager for , Ros Norford, said “It was a fantastic afternoon sharing thoughts and ideas around how we can get to a more representative and culturally appropriate creative health sector. Thank you to everyone who came and contributed to ”.

is supported by The Baring Foundation and is a project commissioned by NHS Greater Manchester in partnership with GMCA and Company Chameleon.

Find out more about the project: https://bit.ly/3QEayEq

Our Access & Development Producer, Emmy, is taking over our Instagram tomorrow (Thu 16 Nov)!

Head over to our Instagram to celebrate emerging talent from the North West with a behind the scenes look at our artists in their final day of rehearsals before their performances on Fri 17 Nov, and hear more about Emmy’s role within the project.

Book a ticket for : https://bit.ly/UpliftTickets

artist, Jordan Sheard, is taking over our Instagram tomorrow (Tue 14 Nov)!

Head over to our Instagram to celebrate emerging talent from the North West with a behind the scenes look into our artists in their final week of rehearsals before their performances on Fri 17 Nov.

Book a ticket for : https://bit.ly/UpliftTickets

⭐️ triple-bill⭐️

On Friday 17 November, we invite you to our studio to watch a triple-bill of new commissions from three of the North West’s most exciting dance makers!

The evening will showcase new works in progress by Jordan Sheard, Shesoma (Maea Morgan and Lucy Halfpenny) and Mad Dogs Theatre (Douglas Thorpe), this year’s artists, who have been in residence at our studio over Autumn.

Ahead of the performance, we caught up with the artists to hear more about their work and their residency experience.

Read the Q&A and book tickets: https://bit.ly/3QSrM2l

, our weekly classes for budding young dancers, age 4 to 16, are back!

The perfect way to start the weekend and taught by Chameleon’s professional dancers, these energetic and engaging sessions invite young people to get moving and explore their creativity through movement.

Fun, physical and interactive, the classes take place in our newly refurbished home studio in Openshaw, and develop young people’s creative skills through an accessible and fun movement style.

Find out more and book your free taster session: https://bit.ly/3tYWuNT

As part of our commitment to developing emerging dance talent, we’re excited to continue our apprenticeship scheme for 2024-2026, offering the opportunity for an Apprentice Company Dancer to join our team. We particularly welcome applications from dancers from the global majority.

We’re looking for dancers, age 21+, who are passionate about the artform and who can demonstrate a high level of commitment to their dance training and development so far, having completed a degree or equivalent.

Our Apprentice Company Dancer will join the Company on a two-year paid apprenticeship programme starting in July 2024.

The deadline for applications is Wed 20 Dec 2023 and the audition date (by invitation) is Fri 19 Jan 2024.

More info: https://bit.ly/3FAEsnQ

is back for our final run before the Christmas break!

We invite final year students, graduates and professionals to join us for FREE at our home studio in Manchester from 10-11:30am, Mon-Fri (until 8 Dec).

If you’re a professional dancer this is a fantastic opportunity to push forward your practice in high quality classes which engage a mix of movement styles, focuses and techniques.

Book a place: https://bit.ly/3FHn7JO

Flashback to the first performances of , choreographed by Kevin Edward Turner, at Freedom Festival Hull this summer.

is a powerful and moving dance performance, following the journey of six people seeking refuge.

Huge thank you to Freedom Festival for having us⭐️

📸 T Arran Photo

LAUNCH INVITATION:
: shining a global majority spotlight on mental health.

Tue 14 Nov, 2-6pm
At Company Chameleon

Join us for the launch of , a new project, which aims to increase mental health support for people from global majority communities in Greater Manchester.

What to expect:

-Introduction to the project
-Find out how to get involved
-Hear from guest speakers
-Network with others in creative health

Find out more and book a free ticket: https://bit.ly/3Sui6wb

DIY PRODUCING AND PROGRAMMING
Thu 26 Oct, 6:30-8:30pm, online

Dance artists: so you have an idea and now what?

For many dance artists the idea of trying to manage and tour work can feel daunting. Join us for a relaxed session, led by Emmy Lahouel and Amanda Fawcett, designed to support those next steps.

You will learn tips and tricks to support yourself as a self-producing artist, hear what venues and organisations look for when programming and find out how to approach them to present your work.

Book a ticket: https://bit.ly/3rGMTuC

We're looking for a Learning & Evaluation Partner to capture the learning from , our new project, which shines a global majority spotlight on mental health.

aims to increase mental health support for people from global majority communities by developing a global majority, creative health workforce across Greater Manchester

The Learning & Evaluation Partner will work across the project to develop and deliver a Practice Resource to share project learning and recommendations.

Find out more: https://bit.ly/3M7VI7z

Our programme is about helping dance artists in the North West develop their skills, so you can make a bigger impact in the dance industry!

For many artists the idea of trying to manage and tour work can feel daunting, join us for a relaxed evening designed to support those next steps led by Emmy Lahouel and Amanda Fawcett. Throughout the session you will learn tips and tricks to support yourself as a self producing artist, hear what venues and organisations look for when programming and find out how to approach them to present your work.

Thu 26 Oct, 6:30-8:30pm
Online
Book a ticket: https://bit.ly/3rGMTuC

Company Chameleon are looking for Board members and a young Board member, aged between 17 and 25, to join the governing body of one of the UK’s most exciting dance organisations.

Find out more: https://bit.ly/ChameleonBoard

Our programme is about helping dance artists in the North West develop their skills, so you can make a bigger impact in the dance industry!

In the third workshop of the series, FINDING AND FUNDING WORK, our Access & Development Producer Emmy will share tips and tricks on finding opportunities to develop and manage your own projects as well as how to fund them.

Thu 19 Oct, 6:30-7:30pm
Online
Book a ticket: https://bit.ly/3tlDGbx

New ways in creative health!

We’re delighted to welcome Ros Norford to the Chameleon team to lead on .

A new project, creates the opportunity for people who are part of the global majority, and who work in the creative industries, to develop their skills in creative health

The project is for anyone from the global majority who is interested in learning more about how they can promote health and wellbeing through creativity, and is interested in the opportunity to take part and shape the training, support and development to create a fair, equal and healthy Greater Manchester.

Interested in being involved? Read more and as a first step complete the expression of interest form: https://bit.ly/48wWrZt

We’d also love to see you at the first Myriad Networking event on Tue 14 Nov, 2pm – 5pm at Company Chameleon. More news on this soon.

Our programme is about helping dance artists in the North West develop their skills, so you can make a bigger impact in the dance industry!

Kicking off the series, Nicola Mullen, Brand Warrior and Chameleon’s very own marketing lass, invites you to join her on zoom for DIGGING DEEP!

In this online workshop, Nicola will help you build a foundation and find the cornerstones of your personal brand as a dance artist, so you can grow your reputation and promote yourself with focus and joy!

What do people say about Nicola’s workshops?

“Today was excellent with Nicola. Packed full of loads of insights, and so lovely to hear everyone’s unique stories and their visions!"

“Just to say that was brilliant!! I’m super inspired.” Marianna

“This was an amazing workshop Nicola! I have learned SOOO much!.” Lucy

Thu 6 Oct, 6:30-8:30pm
Online, on zoom.
Book a ticket: https://bit.ly/3RSaNy3

Want to dance?
Five reasons to book a FREE taster session at !

1) The Saturday Sessions are created by a dance company born in Manchester over 15 years ago.
2) The focus is on fun and creativity not on learning steps.
3) Classes are taught by world-class professional dancers.
4) We’re super friendly and welcoming!
5) From £3 per session, classes are brilliant value for money.

Book your FREE taster session today!
More info: https://bit.ly/3BTtDfP

Join us for OPEN FLOOR, a night of live improvised music and dance in collaboration with University of Salford and Low Four Studios.

Taking place in spaces across the city, is a space to play, share and connect. Dancers are invited to respond to live improvised music and musicians, responding to each other and the dancers in the space. is a space to meet, jam and collaborate across artform.

Thu 21 Sept, 7-10pm, Low Four
Thu 19 Oct, 8-10pm, Company Chameleon
No need to book, just turn up.

View our full Autumn Artist Development programme: https://t.co/NM9zCxpnAR

North West Dance Artists we got you!

As part of our commitment to raising the bar for dance in the North West, we’re excited to announce our Artist Development programme, giving you everything you need to develop your practice this Autumn!

💥Meet, jam and collaborate at OPEN FLOOR.
💥Push forward your practice in COMPANY CLASS.
💥Develop your skillset in BEYOND THE STUDIO.
💥See a triple-bill of new work made by our UPLIFT artists.
💥Hire STUDIO SPACE for a fraction of the cost!

Read all about and get booking!
https://bit.ly/3PyRsQK

Chameleon on tour!

Last weekend our Company Dancers Alice and Dave, Apprentice Company Dancers Kadafi and JP and Freelance Artists Cameron and Yue Ying performed by Kevin Edward Turner at Freedom Festival Hull.

The performance was the first outing for following the world premiere in June.

Refuse is a powerful and moving dance performance, which follows the journey of six people seeking refuge.

A play on words, the performance brings home the brutal reality of how people are refused and treated like refuse when they leave their homeland in search of a better life.

Huge thank you to the festival for having us!