MDI Annual Report 2014/15

ANNUAL REPORT 2014/15

MDI, 24 Hope St, Liverpool, L1 9BX | www.mdi.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1040463 | Registered Charity No.2873008 Photo Credit: Alan Smith Company: Arno Schuitemaker

Photo Credit: Alan Smith Company: Compagnie Boukousou

2014/15 in numbers...

142 performances 485 workshops 4 new commissions 11 new community works Audience of 11,850 Footfall of 93,000 11, 482 participants 1

www.mdi.org.uk

CHAIR’S REPORT 2014 -2015 is a landmark year in the history of MDI as the organisation celebrates its 21st Anniversary. A highlight of the year was the hugely successful gala dinner celebrating 21 years of consistent and visionary dance development across Merseyside and the region.

Inspiring presentations from MDI’s Artistic Director, Karen Gallagher and Paul Russ, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Dance 4 in Nottingham, outlined the ambition and the potential for MDI to develop a much-needed dance house for Liverpool. The gala dinner was a resounding success and garnered increased support for the organisation from a large number of existing and new advocates.

Moving into 2015/16 there is great potential to build on this energy and enthusiasm generated by the organisation’s 21st Anniversary celebrations toward sustainable organisational growth.

Organisational and board development have been high on MDI’s agenda this year, and a particular focus on governance has identified the need for board recruitment, which will remain a priority as we move into 2015/16.

On behalf of the board I would like to thank MDI’s Artistic Director Karen Gallagher for her unerring commitment and visionary leadership, and her continued ambition for the strategic development of dance not just in Liverpool or the region, but across the UK. The board would also like to acknowledge the hard work and excellent performance of the whole MDI team including permanent staff, freelancers and volunteers without whom the work of the organisation wouldn’t be possible. Thanks are also due to MDI’s funders and sponsors, partner organisations, venues and artists who provide invaluable support in achieving MDI’s aims to develop and strengthen dance provision in the region.

Dr Cathy Butterworth Chair of Trustees, MDI

Photo Credit: Stephen Allen

In 2014-15 we successfully secured National Portfolio Funding for 2015-18, though it is to be noted that the organisation will effectively bear the brunt of a 28% decrease in funding. Karen Gallagher and the MDI team have continued to work tirelessly throughout this year, with sustained efforts in diversifying and strengthening MDI’s financial position, which remains a priority for the organisation.

It goes without saying that artists, practitioners, the community and audiences are at the heart of what makes MDI a vibrant and essential organisation in the arts ecology of the city and the region. As outlined in the Artistic Director’s report 2014-15 has been exceptional in terms of the sheer diversity and amount of work that has been developed, presented and supported by the organisation.

Despite financial challenges MDI have continued to have a very strong strategic influence on dance at a local, regional and national level. We have established new collaborations and strengthened existing partnerships with organisations, funders and artists.

MDI Staff and Board: (l-r) Maxine Ellis, Rachel Rogers, Sharon Dowell, Maxine Brown, Laura Hall, Cathy Butterworth, Jane Davies, Jennie Hale, Hazel Russel. Karen Gallagher (centre)

www.mdi.org.uk

2

I am extremely proud of what we have achieved in this our 21st birthday year on so many levels: the quality of our work; the increased activity, securing actress Sunetra Sarker as our patron, articulating our ambition to new potential partners and increasing a post to full time all contributed to achieving our mission: inspiring people through dance.

Our gala dinner was a great success and pledges made by guests are already having an impact on the organisation.

Highlights are featured throughout the report contributing to the priorities we set for the year: • Nurturing artists based in the NW, supporting them to create new work that can export out of the region and be toured within the North • Providing regular classes in MDI Studio 24 for people of all ages and abilities • Presenting more dance work with venues and other partners in order to develop existing audiences and grow new ones • Researching our ability to develop premises fit for purpose and support resilience to grow capacity through investing more time in business research and networking

Photo Credit: Stephen King Company: Company Chameleon

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S REPORT

MDI was involved in presenting a lot of dance work this year: produced City Steps Festival in Liverpool and St Helens; commissioned a new community dance work for Big Dance and created Leap International as a biennial event of contemporary dance, hence our growth in figures reflects that. In some areas growth was over 1000%!

Its not all been plain sailing and although we are pleased to announce that we remain a National Portfolio Organisation with funding from Arts Council England for another three years it comes with a caveat of a 28% cut and a directive to focus their funds on a particular area of work. The years ahead will be challenging but there is a determination in the team (staff and board) to ensure that we can meet the ambitions and vision we are committed to in the coming years.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the team: Rachel, Maxine, Jennie, Laura and Jane for their continued dedication and hard work and to Sharon Dowell for coordinating the Gala and Leap festival too! A big thank-you to the board who have given time and money and special thanks to our Chair, Dr. Cathy Butterworth for her constant support. To artists, participants, venues, audiences, consultants, organisations and funders, whose ability to support, contribute and engage never fails, driving MDI on to keep transforming lives and inspiring people through dance!

Karen Gallagher MBE Artistic Director

3

www.mdi.org.uk

Photo Credit: Pete Carr Artist: Felix Ologbesere

RISE: African People’s Dance MDI has always been committed to the celebration of cultural diversity and since 2003 has employed Maxine Brown as a community dance artist with a focus on African and Caribbean dance. In 2014, MDI launched the RISE strategy, setting out how the organisation continues to nurture and develop dance of the African Diaspora and diversity through existing flagship projects such as the Bend Down Low Community Showcase and by working more closely with local organisations such as Movema and Brouhaha who are also championing dance and cultural diversity in Liverpool and beyond.

Developing stronger links with national organisations including The Association of Dance for the African Diaspora (ADAD) and State of Emergency (SOE) has brought projects like ADAD’s Open Stage and SOE’s forthcoming Black Dance Archive and performance to Liverpool and increased interest in and support of black dance forms.

“We were proud to be part of such a vibrant and exciting evening. It was a magnificent achievement to bring together so many different groups and styles of dance that were representative of Liverpool's rich dance heritage. We had a great evening, it was fun, entertaining and sometimes awe inspiring.” Judy Smith, Growing Older (Dis)Gracefully, Bend Down Low 2014 www.mdi.org.uk

On an international level, ‘Framing Liverpool though Michigan Eyes’ brought 16 students from the University of Michigan and their professors to work with community organisations in Liverpool 8 to research the experiences of black communities in Liverpool over the years compared to those in Detroit. The month long residency culminated in two public performances at the Lantern Theatre followed by two facilitated discussions which brought together key activists from Liverpool’s black communities and focused around issues of race, culture and society.

This year’s programme highlights include: Framing Liverpool - University of Michigan project in June.

Established Riddim and Roots community performance group in September.

Launched RISE strategy and MDI’s 21’s Birthday Celebrations at the Bend Down Low community showcase in November (full strategy available on the MDI website).

Presented the 'Sidelined’ seminar and hosted ADAD’s Open Stage within the Leap programme in March.

4

Photo Credit: Rachel Rogers Company: 50 Moves

MOVE ON UP: Dance & Health 2014 / 15 is MDI’s Dance and Health programme’s third successful year. We pride ourselves on working with experienced dance artists and delivering high quality person-centered classes and projects that focus on addressing the chronic health and social inequalities experienced in Liverpool. The programme reaches an average of 600 participants a year, aged 0 – 80+ Programme Highlights included: 50 Moves being selected to perform at Sadler’s Wells National Elixir Festival celebrating older dancers Delivering 12 months of Dance for Dementia classes in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society in Liverpool and Knowsley Delivering our first full year of Dance for Parkinson’s classes in partnership with English National Ballet.

Delivering a six month programme of chair based exercise and movement with the African Elders group in Toxteth Town Hall.

Recomissioned by Alder Hey Hospital to deliver two Breathe progammes for children with severe asthma.

In October & November MDI produced Longshore Drift with Fevered Sleep in Sefton as part of the Atkinson’s Footsteps coastal programme, resulting in a short film. In March David Harradine led A Line Drawn on a Moving Page in Wirral and Sefton with a group of north west artists, both of which form part the research and development for An Infinite Line: Merseyside, to be produced in 2016/17 5

“Normally [she] can't understand, and follow instructions… but in dancing, [she] CAN follow the instructions because the verbal…[is] accompanied by physical demonstrations…success where there is usually failure…”

Partner of Dance for Dementia Participant www.mdi.org.uk

Photo Credit: Dava Jonah

Children & Young People MDI undertook a varied programme of activities for young people. Highlights from the year include: Tingalayo: MDI’s annual African & Caribbean Youth Dance Summer School. 16 young people attended the week which was led by Francis Angol. Feedback from parents and participants was overwhelmingly positive.

BBC’s Ten Pieces Project: MDI was involved in this project with a group of young people aged 7-11yrs.

The project aims to open up the world of classical music to children and insipre them to develop their own creative responses to ten pieces of music, in this case through dance. The children performed their final piece as part of this year’s Bend Down Low performance.

Daughters of the Deep: MDI commissioned Gary Clarke to reproduce his piece ‘The Deep’ on 6 young people from St Helens as part of the City Steps festival which featured in St Helen‘s Summer Streets festival.

Facilitated a group of 16 young people from Michigan as they came to Liverpool to study and learn about the city. www.mdi.org.uk

6

Photo Credits: Nizimah Akpan

International Dance Day: Youth groups from across Merseyside came along and performed as part of MDI’s International Dance Day celebrations in Williamson Square on Saturday 27th April.

Photo Credits: Stephen King Company: Stop Gap Dance Company

City Steps International Festival of Business 2014

IFB 2014 was a global showcase for great British business and the largest business festival in the world. The 50-day festival in Liverpool attracted 68,600 business attendees from 92 countries at 415 events and MDI was commissioned through Liverpool Vision to reproduce City Steps, our international outdoor dance festival, featuring dance works from the UK and abroad, made up of stage based performance, strolling performers and animations in shop windows, steps, shopping precincts and other sites. In June 2014 we presented a number of companies including: Gary Clarke, Axial Dance, LIC, China Pearl, taciturn Dance, Company Chameleon and Nicoletta Cabassi with Simona Lisi from Italy.

Putting the festival on across two weekdays was an experiment, and was programmed to coincide with the Liverpool IFB attracting a footfall of 15,253 on Thursday 12th June and 12,680 on Friday 13th June.

St Helen’s Summer Streets 2014: 30th & 31st July, 1st August.

MDI worked in partnership with Heart of Glass and St Helen’s Council to programme contemporary dance into their existing Summer Streets Festival.

The aim of the dance programme was to introduce quality contemporary dance from diverse artists to the general public of St Helen’s to whom these styles of dance are not regularly available. MDI curated a programme of exciting outdoor dance from local, national and international disabled. LGBT and BME artists in a range of contemporary and traditional styles.

The ‘Daughters of the Deep’ project and performance was a festival highlight in terms of dance and audience development and production of quality performance. Choreographer Gary Clarke worked with a group of six young women from a local school to introduce them to his methods of creating choreographic material and devising a performance. In five days he worked hard with the group to create a piece inspired by his existing work ‘The Deep’, performed by six women and set in a shop window but based on movements of aquatic creatures in an aquarium.

7

“Fabulous - when are they on again?

Brilliant to have professional dancers here, they’re so good!” Audience Feedback: City Steps St Helens www.mdi.org.uk 7

Photo Credits: Lisa Rastl

In developing a joint partnership approach to supporting artists with Dance Manchester, MDI was introduced to Austrian artist Willi Dorner.

When he visited the city he was really taken by a particular street in Anfield and how it had become derelict and eventually demolished.

The idea was to create a new work that engaged with local artists and communities, that celebrated a sense of place and social engagement. It considered how do people of the city appreciate the contribution that communities and local people make to a town/city?

As part of Big Dance 2014, MDI with Foundation for Community Dance commissioned Willi Dorner to create this unique performance that set to capture Liverpool life, and included hundreds of members of the community in a moving installation that combined live music and formational sequences to create the theme – making the invisible, visible.

“Love the music, especially the last piece” “Flawless. Good band” Audience Feedback: Audience Feedback: We Are The City We Are The City www.mdi.org.uk

Working with 5 dance artists (Jo Ashbridge, Leila Chebbi, Paul Doyle, Jennifer Hale, and Ruth Jones) and composer (Tom Rea Smith) we created a procession of people that included: Liverpool Brass Band, 50 moves dance company, bee keepers, knitters, ballroom dancers, bikers, street cleaners and the fire brigade.

8

Photo Credits: Andrew Hooker Artist: Melissa Pasut

ARTIST SUPPORT MDI offered up to 35 Hours of free space each to 5 local artists developing their practice and creating work in Merseyside.

We supported two local artists with space and a financial award towards research and development through the Residance bursary programme. This year’s successful applicants were Melissa Pasut and Vicci Riley. Melissa performed a work in progress of her piece BlackPlastikBag, in a site specific performance at FACT during LEAP 2015.

Team members offered advice on funding and administrative issues for freelance artists Working in partnership with Tmesis Theatre we supported local artists applying for the Physical Fest bursary award. Free space was given, alongside mentoring to the successful artist Fionnuala Dorrity. A work in progress was presented as part of Fest Live during Physical Fest 2015.

Northern Dances: MDI hosted an evening during LEAP 2015 in association with Dance Base, Dance City and Yorkshire Dance to present new work from the North.

9

“Beautiful, dramatic, told a story, had depth, enjoyed it very much” Audience feedback BlackPlastikBag The bursary and support I received from MDI to develop my first solo dance-theatre piece was invaluable. It allowed me an opportunity to develop my creative practice and their support gave me confidence in pursuing my ideas and pushing boundaries to create a unique piece of theatre.

The experience and enthusiasm of the MDI team informed the creative and technical process. Fionnuala Dorrity - MDI Bursary Recepient

www.mdi.org.uk

Photo Credits: Alan Smith Company: PanicLab

Leap International 2015, supported by The Foyle Foundation ran from March 1st through to March 31st and was hosted in 3 venues across the city including regular partner venues such as the Capstone and the Unity Theatre as well as MDIs own venue Studio 24.

“Fabulous! Unreal! Inspiring!

Talented!”

Audience Feedback: Next Stage “Very inventive and intriguing performance to watch” Audience Feedback: Depwofondis “Brilliant, great diversity, interesting comments from the artists’” Audience Feedback: Northern Dances “Absolutely compelling, beautiful and thoughtful, a real tour de force of a human journey into age and grace’” Audience Feedback: Liz Aggiss www.mdi.org.uk

Working with partners of Merseyside Dance Promoters Network (MDPN) the festival included 16 events (with live performance, talks and debates) in addition to artist led workshops and additional sharing of work in the MDI studio which provided the festival with a wide variety of dance performance and activity offering something for everyone across the month.

Performances and contributions came from: Arno Schuitemaker, Liz Aggiss, Joseph Lau, Compagnie Boukousou, Chris Owen, Bridget Fiske, Panic Lab, taciturn, Gavin Persand, China Pearl, VERVE, JMUpstart, 12 Degrees North, Anthony Lo Giudice, Sophie Unwin, Lisi Perry, Lisa Simpson, English National Ballet, Movema, Maxine Brown, Fevered Sleep, Bernard Pierre Louis, Carolene Hinds, Garrick Prayogg, Funmi Adewole, Lauren Tucker, Javier Grande.

MDI Commissioned new work for the festival from: Panic Lab, Taciturn Dance and Moving Dance Forward.

10

As part of MDI celebrating its 21st birthday on 18th November 2014, we created an evening where we invited artists, funders and potential investors to dinner. With 100 guests and 20 new to the organisation it was a great opportunity to not only thank those who have supported and worked with us over the years but to share our ambition for the future in relation to creating a dance house for Liverpool and in so doing launching our Dance Development House Fund.

Most major cities have a Dance House (London, Newcastle, Leeds, Edinburgh, Bournemouth, Ipswich and Birmingham).

The impact these building are having on the dance economy is quite phenomenal and are instrumental to contributing to the areas of growth we wish to explore at MDI. The rapid growth of some of these organisations has been exponential.

To compliment the dinner we had Choreographer Tom Roden (originally from NW) compere the evening alongside local harpist Elfair Grug and dance companies, House of Suarez and China Pearl perform.

Photo Credit: Stephen Allen

21st BIRTHDAY GALA

DIVERSIFYING INVESTMENT IN DANCE The project began in January 2013 with the creation of the DiiD consortium and our successful application to the Catalyst Programme, receiving £150,000.00 between us, providing MDI with the chance to work with likeminded dance organisations from across the country: Dance 4 (Nottingham); East London Dance (London) and Dance Manchester (Manchester).

The aim was to individually and collectively help diversify income streams and reduce levels of dependence upon grant aid and set out to identify skills gaps in fundraising within each organisation and committed to fill these gaps through collective training, mentoring and networking.

This programme has: • Supported our gala event • Increased our networking capacity • Generated income from new sources • Identified new partners • Identified new board members • Supported learning amongst team members • Considered new ways of raising funds • Commissioned a piece of writing by artist Wendy Houstoun reflecting on the MDI story and its impact

It was an opportuntiy to also introduce our new patron, actress Sunetra Sarker (who was featureing on BBC Striclty Come Dancing at the time) and share our newly commissioned film ‘MDI - A moving story’. We rasied over £1000 to start up our fund and many pledges from people to engage with us in the future, it was really succesful and something we will consider repeating in the future.

11

www.mdi.org.uk

Patron a vibrant part of the Liverpool dance community Studio 24, MDI’S in-house dance studio, continued to offer a wide range of dance classes across the year including Ballet, Contemporary, African Dance, Flamenco and Professional Level Classes.

In addition to this the studio is the base for many of MDI’s core projects including Dance for Parkinsons and Dance for Alzheimers classes as well as providing valuable soace for artists to rehearse and create work.

External hires have once again increased. With classes in Tai Chi, Yoga, Vogue, Pilates and Capoeira taking place in Studio 24 regularly.

www.mdi.org.uk

SUNETRA SARKER

MDI Proudly welcomes the Casualty star and 2014 BBC Strictly Come Dancing contestant as our Patron!

Born in Liverpool in 1975 Sunetra is best known for her role as Consultant Zoe Hannah on Casualty, a role she has been playing for 7 years. Dance however has always been close to her heart as she grew up with her dancer mother Bisakha Sarker a long-time collaborator with MDI Looking forward to becoming patron of the organisation Sunetra said: “As a complete new comer to ballroom and Latin dancing and braving it on Strictly Come Dancing this year, I can see just how much hard work and commitment dancers have to give to their art. I am proud to have been asked to be a patron of MDI as a Scouser and a working mother and someone who sees the help dance can make to peoples lives through some of the fascinating work MDI is and has been doing to encourage dance and movement to all. No matter who you are or where you come from... I look forward to seeing the inspiration and joy of dance that they bring to the lives of others through their dedicated work".

12

Staff

Funders & Partners

Karen Gallagher MBE Artistic Director Rachel Rogers Project Development Manager Jennifer Hale Community Dance Artist Maxine Brown Community Dance Artist (APD) Laura Hall Finance & Communications Officer Jane Davies Administration & Communications Officer Sharon Dowell Events Coordinator (June 14 - March 15)

Board

Dr Cathy Butterworth Chair Maxine Ellis Katherine Lawrenson, Tunde Zack-Williams Sue Harrison Hazel Russel

Artists & companies Gary Clarke, House of Suarez, China Pearl , Christopher Owen, Arno Schuitemaker, Liz Aggiss, Joseph Lau, Compagnie Boukousou, Bridget Fiske, Panic Lab, taciturn Dance, Gavin Persand, China Pearl, VERVE, JMUpstart, 12 Degrees North, Anthony Lo Giudice, Sophie Unwin, Lisi Perry, Lisa Simpson, English National Ballet, Movema, Fevered Sleep, Bernard Pierre Louis, Carolene Hinds, Garrick Prayogg, Funmi Adewole, Axial Dance, Simona Lisi, Nicoletta Cabassi, Company Chameleon, Ballet Nimba, StopGap Dance Company, Kali Chandrarasegaram, Growing Older (Dis)grafefully, The Jiving Lindy Hoppers, Lamin Dumbuya, Melissa Pasut, Anoikis II, Sophie Taylor, Sarah Dwyer, Jo Ashbridge, Stephanie Bairet, Leila Chebbi, Paul Doyle, Ruth Jones, Tom Rae Smith, Willi Dorner, Liverpool Improvisation Collective (LIC), Lauren Tucker, Tmesis Theatre, 50 Moves, Fiona Hilton, ABER, ADAD, Felix Ologbesere, Mira Balchandran Gokul, Matthew Bourne, DV8, Tom Roden, Dance UK, Akram Khan, Mary Pearson, Bisakha Sarker. Dance Culture, Chaos Dance, Phab and Phunky, Rochelle Estwick, Talisha Thomas-Lindsay, Riddim & Roots, Anton Alexandrov, Javier Grande.

13

www.mdi.org.uk

Balance Sheet 2015 FIXED ASSETS Tangible Assets CURRENT ASSETS Debtors Cash at Bank

CREDITORS (amounts falling due within one year) NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSES LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

2014

2,799

1,575

14,665 47,974 62,459

12,212 65,586 77,798

34,333 28,126 30,925

59,724 18,074 19,649

27,920 3,005 30,925

19,649 19,649

CAPITAL AND RESERVES Unrestricted Funds General Fund Restricted funds

MDI 24 Hope Street Liverpool L1 9BX Tel: 0151 708 8810 E-Mail: info@mdi.org.uk Web: www.mdi.org.uk @MDIStudio24 MDIStudio24 /MDIdance24 Company No: 2873008 Charity No: 1040463

www.mdi.org.uk

14

Photo Credit: Dava Jonah

CELEBRATING 21 YEARS inspiring people through dance

www.mdi.org.uk