Dance on...

JOHN Darvell is artistic director of NOCTURN, a dance company that built its reputation with highquality participatory art. In June, he wrote: “We struggled to survive when all our face-to-face public engagement activities had to cease back in April. I just thought ‘This is the end’ – 10 years of increasing achievements wiped out overnight by a bug.”

John tried everything he could think of to stay afloat: Government assistance for small businesses... not applicable; Arts Council England grant... applications overwhelmed them; local partner venues... shut up shop.

“As an artist, I felt overlooked and that our work was unworthy.”

Then an unexpected boost came when Grant Dedden, owner of Newbury CrossFit – John’s gym – asked all his members to sign his Covid-19 response ‘I Pledge’ scheme and commit themselves to a NOCTURN dance activity in future. Their support gave him the drive he needed to adapt the company’s programmes to suit the times.

And further hope came from local schools, then the whole community of dance participants told them to continue. NOCTURN’s other regular adult participants eagerly signed up for Dance Online, a monthly membership scheme giving access to a wide range of pre-recorded exercises and live Zoom classes. And NOCTURN has also made a free Dance at Home toolkit available to ensure primary aged children.

“It’s been tough, Covid-19,” says John. “So, I’ve been touched by the encouragement from schools and our participants, both regular and new. The spirit and generosity of the Newbury public is vital. Only they can get artists like me through these dark times.” https://bit.ly/3eYjIdz n Recent good news, too, as John has been filming dance sequences for a commission for Greenwich Dance. More of this another date.