Kentish Express Ashford & District
B&B families
The number of families living in bed and breakfast accommodation in Ashford rose in the first few months of the year. Statistics show that 18 families were in temporary accommodation in March 2016, compared with nine families in December 2015. An Ashford-based dance company is launching a series of new initiatives next month.
The Jasmin Vardimon Company, based at the Stour Centre, have teamed up with the Gulbenkian in Canterbury to highlight their commitment to communities in Kent and the development of dance in the region.
The dance company will be piloting a new audience ambassadors scheme in partnership with the Gulbenkian, the theatre of the University of Kent.
A group of young people aged 13 to 25 with the Jasmin Vardimon Company will advocate the arts and dance in the region.
Supported by both organisations, the new scheme increases arts access for young people, with the opportunity to see performances and learn more about careers in the arts.
The organisations are also launching a new youth dance company at the Gulbenkian where regular sessions will begin in October.
Led by Jasmin Vardimon Company dancers, JV2 students from the dance company’s professional development training programme will also mentor and support the young dancers.
Jasmin Vardimon said: “Having been based in Ashford since 2012, the company’s commitment both the town and the county of Kent is woven into our fabric.
“We see the development of our partnership with Gulbenkian as being crucial to this and through these various initiatives we aim to increase our contribution to the region through widening our audiences, presenting our work in the county and placing ourselves at the centre of the regional provision of education and wider opportunities provided by dance.”
Liz Moran, director of Gulbenkian, said: “We are very excited to be working in partnership with such an internationally renowned company and inno- vative choreographer.
“We have a shared passion and commitment to developing new audiences for dance and providing opportunities for young people as dancers and to inform future dance development in Kent.”
The dance company premiered an adaptation of the story Pinocchio at Gulbenkian in August for the bOing! International Family Festival prior to a national tour.