UNDER THE SAME SKY – Metro Schools
Act-Belong-Commit || CONNECT Program
under the same sky
The Act-Belong-Commit || CONNECT Program UNDER THE SAME SKY is an in-school creative dance workshop experience for students from Pre-Primary to Year 12.
Through either single workshop or longer residency options, the program provides a unique opportunity to connect WA students and teachers with the State’s flagship professional contemporary dance company, Co3 Contemporary Dance Australia.
The program is accessible for both general and dance students, and is suitable for students of any dance experience level.
It is available to all WA metro schools and FULLY-SUBSIDISED for low SES schools.
IMAGE: Dance Workshop participants
What the UNDER THE SAME SKY program offers
Through in-school workshop sessions (see Engagement Options and content below), students will work with a professional Co3 dance artist in a creatively stimulating and reflective environment. Students will be guided through warm-ups, movement activities and creative tasks, that aim to foster imagination, collaboration with peers, and confidence in communicating.
The workshop sessions will support students to explore new and unique ways of moving their bodies, and will invite them to be brave and curious in sharing ideas and discoveries. All sessions are conducted in a way that is fun, encouraging and inclusive for students.
The UNDER THE SAME SKY program for schools is tied closely to Co3 Artistic Director Raewyn Hill’s empowering dance production Archives of Humanity, which premiered at the Perth Festival in February, 2021. The set for the work is a collaboration between Raewyn Hill and international sculptural artist Naoko Yoshimoto, and included over 1001 black fabric birds, hand-crafted by WA community members and students. The work draws on the stories and experiences of individuals within a community.
Photo: Stefan Gosatti
Within the UNDER THE SAME SKY program, students will have the opportunity to reflect on, discuss and share stories and experiences in their own lives that have presented challenges and triumphs, big or small. These stories, as well as creative tasks included throughout the Archives of Humanity development, will be used as stimulus for students to explore and develop their own movement within the dance workshop sessions. For schools engaging in the 8+ session residency option, students will begin their journey by creating their own hand crafted birds.
Image: Workshop Leader Paul Rowe with students from Yule Brook College
Over the course of the sessions, students will build on the dance material they create together, culminating in an (optional) short informal showing for their peers/ invited guests in the final session.
Students who participate in the program will also receive:
- An UNDER THE SAME SKY t-shirt (limited to the first 300 participants)
- An UNDER THE SAME SKY journal (limited to the first 300 high school participants) which will be used to record brainstorms, reflections, drawings and insights over the course of the residency and beyond
The program provides WA Curriculum links to: DANCE, HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION, VISUAL ARTS and ENGLISH.
Engagement Options
The UNDER THE SAME SKY program is available for delivery in schools in 2021 throughout terms 2, 3 and 4. Schools can apply for more than one class group to take part in the program if desired.
The length of each workshop session is approx. 1 hour, depending on the school’s scheduling.
Schools can opt for one the following engagement models:
CREATIVE RESIDENCY (Long):
Bird making, storytelling and dance
Minimum of 8 sessions
During this residency, students will:
- Work with a Co3 dance artist to create their own hand crafted bird (approx. 2 sessions). All resources are provided be guided to reflect, record and share personal experiences of challenge, triumph and community.
- Participate in a range of creative tasks that will support them to explore and choreograph their own movement, culminating in an optional showing for peers/ invited guests in the final session.
CREATIVE RESIDENCY (Short):
Storytelling and dance
Minimum of 5 sessions
During this residency, students will:
- Be guided to reflect, record and share personal experiences of challenge, triumph and community.
- Participate in a range of creative tasks that will support them to explore and choreograph their own movement culminating in an optional showing for peers/ invited guests in the final session.
CREATIVE WORKSHOP:
Dance
Single session
This is a one-off workshop session, that will guide students to explore and develop their own movement using creative tasks included throughout the Archives of Humanity development.
Please note: The Co3 CONNECT t-shirt and journal extras do not apply for Single Session workshops.
Who is eligible to participate in the UNDER THE SAME SKY Program?
Any primary or high school in the Perth Metro is eligible to get involved, for students Pre-Primary to Year Twelve. The program is suitable for students of any dance experience level. The workshops can be delivered in a studio space, undercover area, grassed area or any other space that allows for students to safely move around.
What is the Cost?
Schools with a low SES score will receive the program fully-subsidised. (Eligibility upon enquiry).
Schools with a medium or high SES score can refer to the pricing below:
Cost per 1 x hour session: $180 + GST (Total residency cost pending number of sessions)
Administration Fee: 5%
Travel fees also apply for schools over 20km from Perth City.
To register your interest for this program, or for further details, please email Jess Lewis via education@co3.org.au
“During these workshops, I felt more freedom, and learnt more about myself during the way. I learnt that even with people watching, you should express yourself.” - Year 6 Student
“Students felt part of something big; also belongingness through supporting each other in the cohort. The program allowed some students to shine that might not usually.”
