Relevant literature findings

Since the slight change in my Inquiry question, I have found more relevant literature findings which I have looked at to support my thoughts and ideas of what the function and purpose of an arts centre in a local community is. 
For my specific area that I live in, Pavilion Dance South West is the prime example of how a community dance organisation is run and maintained. From their website it outlines specific goals and aims of their existence. Please see below the extract which I am referring to;

Who We Are and What We Do In a single page. Vision: A world where everyone lives a healthier and more fulfilled life through dance Mission: We celebrate and encourage dance nationally, building strong local and regional partnerships to connect it to a diverse and broad public, through excellent performance and participation opportunities. Values: Generous, Passionate, Inspiring, Inclusive, Fresh Aims:We champion a fresh approach to dance by dissolving boundaries to create and present incredible experiences for audiences and participants. We support and develop those who already love dance and inspire those who have yet to discover it. We aim to be:   A leader in dance development and a powerful national advocate for dance with a distinctive voice   A provider of inspiration and coordination to a diverse, supportive dance development network in the South West   A contributor to Bournemouth and Poole’s regeneration, through programmes delivering social and economic impacts   A champion of collaboration between artists, producers and promoters to serve wider audiences and generate opportunities for emerging talent   A regional hub for dance and health, with international connections, promoting better quality of life and social outcomes for all   A leading facilitator of dance experiences for children and young people (CYP)   A welcoming, inclusive organisation enabling diverse people to engage with diverse dance Priorities:               Bounce: Inspiring children and young people in and through dance

  Grow:Challenging and supporting artists and makers to respond creatively to opportunities and markets   Shift: Developing and testing new ideas for commissioning, producing and distributing dance   Share:Championing and supporting an audience’s right to feel connected and engaged with dance    Breathe:Advocating for and embedding dance into society’s health and well being provision

This was taken from the following link; 

http://www.pdsw.org.uk/assets/Uploads/who-we-are-and-what-we-do-latest-June-2014.pdf

From this section of the website, I am able to present to fellow students and dance peers what PDSW overall aim is. For my inquiry, I am going to look focus in on how employees and specifically dance teachers that work at the facility create the success of this aim and what their contribution provides the company. This is relevant to me as an aspiring dance teacher as I hope to gage a deeper understanding of the community dance set up and believe this area of dance that I am personally not too familiar with which was why I created a specific interest towards it.

As far as relevant findings go, I found an interesting article on the following website from Mary Fitzgerald called 'Tracing roots' (http://www.communitydance.org.uk/DB/animated-library/tracing-roots.html?ed=14074) 

She talks about the history of how dance was brought into the community in America through the mid 70s - early 80s; 

'Although an exact definition of community dance is almost impossible to pinpoint due to its sprawling and allencompassing nature, from a historical perspective, dance always has been a community or ‘socially-based’ art form. As an integral part of communal rituals, celebrations, and socialising, dance has had multiple functions in culture throughout most of our history' Mary Fitzgerald, Tracing Roots, Ariszona state university

Going back to my inquiry question 'What is the function and purpose of an arts centre in the local community?' By reading the article I can see that having one place in your local area that provides a place for you to use dance as a social release and celebration to some can play a part in its existence. I look to find out more specifically what my local arts centre has to offer through the interview with one of the community dance teachers and leaders - this I believe will be more specific and will tell me exact information.

“Community dance is about dance not being elitist…it can be about creating pieces of work that break the stereotypes of what dance is and what dancers are, it can be about performing dance in non-traditional places. It can be anything that we, the community want it to be”

(Amans, 2008:4)

This statement was taken from the website; https://izzyandisla.wordpress.com/2010/12/07/our-chosen-definition-of-community-dance/ and stood out to me and my inquiry question. The three main words that stood out to me were 'stereotype', 'elitist' and 'non-traditional'. It all makes sense as being in a community environment I understand that the door is and will be open to all different types of people who want to dance, create and inspire. This is a statement that I think falls into what I am trying to find out - what is the function? To be anything you want it to be... and what is the purpose? To dance and to be able to create.



References;

PDSW website - http://www.pdsw.org.uk/assets/Uploads/who-we-are-and-what-we-do-latest-June-2014.pdf

 Tracing roots by Mary Fitzgerald of Arizona State University -http://www.communitydance.org.uk/DB/animated-library/tracing-roots.html?ed=14074

Community dance quote by Amans, 2008:4 - https://izzyandisla.wordpress.com/2010/12/07/our-chosen-definition-of-community-dance/