Promote Positive Health & Well Being

Music & Movement Workshop

Why artsNK is good for you...

The arts have been recognised nationally as an effective and highly beneficial way to address the well-bring needs of individuals and groups, and to help them develop and lead more active and independent lives.

The arts can help to address a variety of different health issues, including:
- helping to increase mobility (particularly among the elderly and the mobility impaired);
- helping to engage those with mental health issues - by providing a safe environment for self-expression;
- increasing physical activity through art walks, sculpture trails and dance/movement classes;
- promoting well-being through regular arts workshops, which provide social opportunities, mental stimualtion, and can help to maintain dexterity;
- 'Issues' based activities that can be used to target specific health problems, such as sexual health and healthy eating. 

artsNK has proven experience and success in developing a number of arts and health projects, and has also developed a range of specialist health service partnerships to help fund, deliver and sustain the projects.

Youth Dance

artsNK Dance Programme

artsNK has one of the most developed dance programmes within the East Midlands.  With 2 full time dance posts and 2 associate dance artists, the dance team provide a range of dance activities across the whole district working with all ages from 5 - 95. 

The artsNK dance team are fully qualified, experienced and talented dance specialists who have the passion, skills and expertise to initiate, develop and deliver high quality dance experiences.  This is achieved through a range of exciting and innovative dance projects and regular dance activities.

The dance development programme can be divided into two specific areas:

· Dance in education
· Dance in the community

To complement this development work we also offer a programme of professional performances, either at the Terry O Toole Theatre or at one of festivals which take place throughout the summer.

Professional performances give participants who attend classes regularly an opportunity to see work of a professional quality, giving them a goal to aspire to.  Although many audience members also attend performances from a pure enjoyment perspective. 

We offer a range of performances in different styles from contemporary, breakdance, hiphop, Indian, flamenco etc.  For further information see the Terry O'Toole Theatre website.

Dance in Education

Dance in Education

artsNK's dance in education programme seeks to meet the ever-changing needs of teachers and pupils in the demanding world of education.
Our education support programme works with schools and their pupils to provide the following;
· A series of dance workshops leading to a performance
· Training for teachers to deliver dance as part of the school curriculum
· The management and organisation of out-of-school-hours clubs
· Individual, one-off dance workshops designed to meet specific needs
· Specialised longer-term projects, such as arts or health weeks
· Assistance in teachers' professional development through supported planning and observation opportunities
· PPA (Planning, Preparation and Assessment) Cover
· Participation in our District Dance Festivals

What others have said:

"artsNK have been teaching students and mentoring staff in dance at Carre's for six years.  artsNK have broken the stigma attached to boys both in curriculum and extra curriculum time - our after school boy's dance group has been a huge success.  The boys see dance as a key part of their all round PE development.  artsNK have been a pleasure to work with. The impact of their work has been huge." - Andrew Wilkinson - Director of Sport, Carre's Grammar School

"artsNK are a wonderful resource to have in North Kesteven, we are very lucky.  The classes give the children the opportunity to be taught by a specialist which is fantastic". - Liz Jones - Head Teacher, St Michael's Thorpe-on-the-Hill Primary School

Youth Dance

Dance in the Community

artsNK offer a number of opportunities for young people, adults and the elderly to participate in a range of dance activities. With 8 youth dance groups, 1 adult class and a number of classes per week specifically addressing the needs of older people, there is something for everyone.

Youth Dance Groups
Groups meet weekly throughout the school term and they are a great opportunity to learn dance and meet other young people!

We work on developing creative skills to make dance performances based on different themes as well as learning technical skills. We use many different styles of dance ranging from Contemporary, Break Dancing, Street Dance, Capoeira, Tango and Salsa.  All the groups are open to anyone within the age range and both boys and girls are welcome. No experience is necessary.

Youth Dance Company
In addition for any regular members of our youth groups in year 9 or above there is the opportunity to join our performance company. We create one full length dance piece a year, which is toured to different venues across the region. The members of the company have the opportunity to work with professional artists from different dance and art forms to develop their performance piece.

To be part of the company requires dedication, hardwork and a regular commitment to attending class and week long intensive rehearsal sessions. The company work at a higher level to improve strength and technique.

Adult Dance
For those who are interested in using dance to keep fit, we also run classes for adults. 

Click here to find your nearest Youth or Adult Dance class.

Extend Class

Movement Classes for the Elderly
The Extend Programme in North Kesteven was established in 2004.  The classes are aimed at those over 60, promoting gentle exercise and enjoyment. The classes will help
improve your posture, co-ordination, flexibility, strength and independence.  Of course, social interaction and enjoyment are all extra positive benefits of the classes!

All classes are small and friendly and are organized and run by qualified trainers. 

Comments from some Extend participants:

"I enjoy the company" (participant)
"You use muscles you don't use very often" (participant))
"My shoulders are less painful" (participant)

"It's good to see people talk to me about feeling better in themselves and physically fitter" (class teacher)
"I definitely notice them becoming more active and doing the exercises with ease" (class teacher)
"Extend fills a gap for a service that isn't there" (partnership member)

Extend sessions are held in a wide variety of settings, so as to overcome any of the accessibility issues that can be an issue for those with mobility issues  Please click here to find out if there is an Extend class taking place near you.

Art in the Nettles

Arts & Mental Health

Case Study: Art in the Nettles

Art in the Nettles was a visual arts project that was specifically designed to engage a local group of mental health service users in wider community projects, using a green area in Sleaford as the focus for this activity.  The project was developed in partnership with the Lincolnshire Partnership Trust, who provided Occupational Therapist staff support, and was led by the specialist facilitator and artist Lee Sass. 

The Nettles workshops took place regularly from February to September 2006, and gradually developed from sessions dedicated exclusively to service users, to sessions which integrated service users with the local community.  The outdoor workshops were aimed at encouraging participants to examine their environment and to explore the possibilities of interacting with it in more creative ways, through the production of  temporary site interventions. 

These sessions were very successful, and all workshop participants gave indications of increased well-being in the evaluation discussions that were carried out during and after the events.