Community Engagement & Outreach

Help us engage with younger people and elder groups in the region with an LGBTQIA+ focus.

By focusing on creating conversation through exploring movement, this funding will help to engage with marginalised communities in a shared safe space where they can benefit from cultural experiences.

Dora Frankel is a teacher, performer, choreographer and Artistic Director of Dora Frankel Ensemble.

Now working independently with a diverse company of European artists, Dora Frankel creates work exploring environment and people and delivers workshops, residencies and other events to young people and elder groups, using an inclusive and collaborative practice.

FEATURED EVENT

Fragments of Poe Workshop

FRIDAY 31st January 2025
5pm to 6pm
Dance City, Newcastle upon Tyne

In this workshop we’ll explore how to generate movement, inspired by some of the most iconic tales written by the master of Gothic horror, Edgar Allan Poe. Stories will include The Man of the Crowd, The Strange Case of M. Waldemar and The Descent into the Maelstrom – stories and themes that are perennially relevant.

Booking opens very soon!

Dora Frankel has worked with and taught children and young people for half a century and the dancers/teachers in her ensemble are steeped in her methodologies. She also works with older people, creating Café de la Luz for Boundless, 55+ company, Dance City, Newcastle in 2020.

We offer outstanding workshops and residency opportunities, built on our current repertoire of signature eclectic and dynamic works inspired by visual art, music, poetry, gender fluidity and difference, environment and climate change.

We work with professional dancers, schools, colleges, Universities & vocational schools. We engage with community and youth dance, adult and mature groups and offer wraparound events, talks and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions, including bespoke professional mentoring.

Workshops are exciting, challenging and deeply rewarding physical experiences.

Contact frankeldora@gmail.com to chat, order a pack and book a workshop.

I’ve learnt so much tonight, I’ve never done anything like this before. I’ll write about this in my professional portfolio.

— Leah Keenan, final year student, BA Hons Dance, Newcastle College.

WORKSHOP

Re Co Co Recovery College

“I love dancing, it makes me feel fabulous.”

“The praise makes me feel better

“You're a brilliant teacher

— Margaret and Barry, Re Co Co dance

Re Co Co Recovery College provides a safe space where people can connect, gain knowledge and develop skills.

Find out more at www.recoverycoco.com.

WORKSHOP

Boundless: Dance City’s 55+ company

Dance City’s Boundless company for over-55’s provides a unique opportunity for mature dancers in the North East to develop their skills in contemporary dance and performance.

The company creates original work for performances both in person and digital. They collaborate with Dance City teachers and local guest choreographers, including Dora Frankel.

WORKSHOP

Figures in a Floating Landscape: Newcastle College

What People Are Saying

“I was surprised at how much dance material we could produce out of what seemed like so little and in such a short time!”

— Participant, Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) Dance City, Newcastle, April 2021

“I love the flow and danciness of your Graham technique teaching and the weird steps in the repertoire!”

— BA (Hons) Dance Student, Newcastle College

“Dora mentored me for several sessions during the creation of my project 'Footprint'. I found her to be both supportive, as well as giving provocations around the intention of my movement and text which proved invaluable to the direction of the work. Definitely in my next round of funding applications I'll be including mentoring time with Dora again.”

Penny Chivas, Dance Artist, Glasgow

“I’ve learnt so much tonight, I’ve never done anything like this before. I’ll write about this in my professional portfolio.”

— Leah Keenan, final year student, BA Hons Dance, Newcastle College

“I was thrilled and honoured to be invited to create the first ever work for Boundless. Cafe de la Luz is a companion piece to a work created in 1995  for young people, called Cafe de Sombra – it felt like a fitting starting point and a homage to our continued youth. I love working with the dancers who are incredibly committed and joyful. We are really looking forward to presenting our Cafe of Light to you!”

— Dora Frankel