A Moray dance group was stepping out with joy this week after learning they had been awarded £90,000 to help expand throughout the north.
Bodysurf Scotland has been promoting contemporary dance from their Findhorn base since 2003, holding workshops and training sessions as well as promoting innovating performances.
Now the group is planning expanding from its Moray base thanks to an £83,000 grant from Creative Scotland and another £8125 from Shared Care Scotland.
Artistic Director Karl Jay-Lewin said: “We have brought an incredible array of dance to the region – now this funding will enable us to extend our reach, bringing new dance experiences to more people in Moray – and in the Highlands as well.”
Bodysurf were behind a festival held last year that drew around 600 people to the Universal Hall in Findhorn – now they plan to use the funding windfall to expand their contemporary dance workshops for children aged up to seven years old.
They have organised the ‘Wee Rise Festival’ that will begin on May 20 when sessions for children aged four and under will take place at 10am and 2pm at the Universal Hall. The following day youngsters aged three and over will be welcomed to the Fleming Hall in Aberlour at 10am and 3.30pm.
Emma Stewart Jones of Creative Scotland said that they were delighted to support Bodysurf Scotland “as they continue to expand and build on an already exciting festival programme”.