Dancers celebrate GDance win at Cheltenham Festival



Credit: Neil Smith

VIA Community Dance Company, which brings disabled and non-disabled performers together to work on inspiring performances, is thrilled to have won first prize at Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts.

This is the second consecutive year that VIA have won the cup. This year they scored 92 marks an "outstanding performance" accolade.  The adjudicator said:

"A most creative performance…I could watch it all again!"

The dance company, which is managed by Gloucester-based charity GDance, includes dancers aged 8 to over 40 and meets at Milestone School in Gloucester on Mondays 5.30 – 7pm during term time.  They joined forces on Thursday 14 May to present the award-winning performance at the Town Hall.

The performance, choreographed by inclusive dance specialist Karen Perrins from GDance, is called "Before the Spring".  It takes audiences on an exploration of winter, from the magical and wintery world of Narnia to the Arctic Circle and Northern Lights before travelling back in time to Christmas 1914.

VIA community dance company has been running for over 10 years and has become a vital part of its members’ lives.  VIA’s performances inspire pride and strength of feeling; a parent of one of the members commented:  

"we were all in tears, it was amazing".

VIA members, with boosted morale, are now gearing up for another 2 fantastic performance opportunities:  at The School Games on July 3 in Gloucester Cathedral, and at Gloucester Park in GDance’s professional production All Fall Down on Carnival day (July 25).

GDance is currently seeking funds to enable VIA to continue next year and would welcome any donations, large or small.  Donations help with access costs including dance support workers, fee and travel bursaries. Please click here to find out more ways that you can support Via.

The course could not have run without supporters of this year’s course.  Sincere thanks go to parents, carers and volunteers, The Freemason’s Fund, Gloucestershire Disability Fund, Barnwood Trust and the Cooperative Community Fund.

For more info: contact Karen Perrins (karen@gdance.co.uk) / 01452-550 431. www.gdance.co.uk