Team Wales

FLW - Follow in Wales engaged a core of 20 young participants aged 13 - 30 from different backgrounds and most of them from a small ex-mining and farming village Bettws, Bridgend. Our project started with regular sessions that combined dance and youth work activities through which we connected with our participants, had meaningful discussions about subjects that matter to them, such as gender issues, prejudices, stereotypes and lacking confidence within themselves and amongst their peers. We discovered that being physical in the same shared space, rather than conceptual helped to release intimacy and connect with one another. After several sessions it was great to see the shift from being fearful of dance (shame, awkwardness) to feeling confident and engaged. A highlight from our national sessions was a task “Perfect Person” where participants we asked to write and describe either a real or imagined perfect person for them and after we worked on physically embodying them. It unwrapped emotional layers and was a very honest healing experience in a safe, guided environment.

This project brought together 5 staff members and amongst everyone engaged in Wales, we shared twelve languages, which we believe is impressive, beautiful and reflects the modern Wales. The process of leading an delivering the project was equally important learning experience for the staff as for participants. It was important for the youth leaders to learn when to step back and trust people to work together and to facilitate conversations, learning space rather than lead and direct. It was good to observe the different dynamic within a team when the leaders join in the tasks and exercises - it adds importance to the ask and dismantles the hierarchy. We also appreciated how taking more time to establish relationships helps appreciating the personal growth and builds longer-term connections.

The international exchange in Latvia, summer 2022, was an intense week, fully packed with new experiences, learnings and constant stepping out of comfort zone, which exhilarated individual growth. From the leading point of view it was a constant learning experience, adjusting to consider everyones needs and cultural differences, thinking on the spot, planning and anticipating disruptions whilst at the same time being creative and delivering creative movement activities. We as a team grew closer and are more knowledgable of how to facilitate cultural exchanges, which has led to us securing funding as hosts from Taith - Wales' international exchange programme, for our next international youth and movement focused adventure.

Our young participants from Wales, who went to Latvia where amazed at how quickly they formed close friendships with people from other countries and cultures. (Read their stories here) The openness and respect from everyone allowed them to share personal stories, values, cultural food, music and dances and enjoy all of that together in evenings around bonfire. For participants seeing difference around felt very important and empowering,- be that cultural, ethnical or difference in abilities, - it helped them see themselves from a new perspective and place them in the world differently. Working and being part of a cross-cultural and inclusive project helps us remember we are part of a society and we are responsible for how we create it.

Collaboratively we created a dance performance that travelled around and utilised the beautiful surrounding of Luznava Manor, where our youth exchange took place. It was beautiful to see little bits of people’s creativity and initiatives come together into a larger effort. It was important for a lot of participants to challenge themselves not just to participate in weekly activities but also to perform for an audience. It offered a new direction for personal growth.

A highlight for a lot of our participants was a talent night at the end of the exchange, where we experienced unbelievable bravery and openness from young people who shared honest parts of themselves in a spotlight in front of everyone; some of them - for the first time in their lives. It was as empowering for those who shared their talents as for those watching.

In summary:

20 wide age range participants, 36 meaningful sessions
A successful 60 min performance that engaged 36 audience members from local community
Exciting sharing about the project learnings and outcomes at the International Youth Work event, which brought together youth workers and dance artists from Germany, Croatia, Ukraine, Spain and Wales
Project included sector networking and raining sessions
Heart-filling youth exchange week in Latvia that started new friendships and built cross-cultural relationships
‘Difference’ (cultural, ethnical, abilities, opinions, lived experiences) felt really important and helped people see themselves differently
A great impact of participants travelling for the first time, having a wider world view and a different sense of self
The importance of longer term relationships and the growth that develops from time
Interdisciplinary practice, how working with others is a reflection of how we want society to be
Being physical rather than conceptual; the movement helped to release intimacy
Learning when to step back and trust people to work together and when to choose to facilitate rather than lead or direct
Giving and sharing responsibility amongst partners
Improved sense of own identity for participants as well as leaders
Increased confidence in moving
Valued space to discuss gender and any gender issues