A dance film produced by GDance has won a place in two major international film festivals in Portugal and Russia.
The film, called Beyond the Surface, has been selected as one of 40 films for Inshadow, the International Festival of Video, Performance and Technologies which takes place in Lisbon in December.
It was also chosen for a Moscow film festival called Breaking Down Barriers in November.
Beyond the Surface involved underwater filming in a swimming pool at Quenington Rectory and features a cast of six disabled and non-disabled dancers. The seven-minute work was choreographed by GDance Associate Artist Marie-Louise Flexen from Cirencester.
GDance, based in Colwell Rd, Gloucester, specialises in promoting and producing inclusive dance for people who face disabling barriers.
Beyond the Surface is one of the charity's most successful projects in its 19-year history. The film has so far been screened at Edinburgh's Big Dance celebrations, at the Liberty Festival in London, and at Weymouth's Olympic event this summer. It was shown on the BBC's 19 Big Screens throughout the UK in 2011 and reached an audience of more than 60,000 people. It won 3rd prize at the Cornwall Film Festival.
The film was funded by Arts Council England and has been instrumental in placing GDance firmly on the map of inclusive dance in the UK.
Director of GDance Cath Wilkins said making dance films was a new departure which enabled the charity's work to be viewed by a national and international audience.
"It means we can capture our work on something as simple as a web link. The films can then be used as a teaching aid in the disability sector, as well as in maintstream education and arts venues. They are helping us to affirm our growing reputation as experts in inclusive dance.
"We are delighted with the international success of Beyond the Surface which is sending the message out across the globe that disability, dance and excellence do mix – and in a brilliant way."
GDance's supporters currently include Arts Council England, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and the BBC Children in Need Appeal.
The film, called Beyond the Surface, has been selected as one of 40 films for Inshadow, the International Festival of Video, Performance and Technologies which takes place in Lisbon in December.
It was also chosen for a Moscow film festival called Breaking Down Barriers in November.
Beyond the Surface involved underwater filming in a swimming pool at Quenington Rectory and features a cast of six disabled and non-disabled dancers. The seven-minute work was choreographed by GDance Associate Artist Marie-Louise Flexen from Cirencester.
GDance, based in Colwell Rd, Gloucester, specialises in promoting and producing inclusive dance for people who face disabling barriers.
Beyond the Surface is one of the charity's most successful projects in its 19-year history. The film has so far been screened at Edinburgh's Big Dance celebrations, at the Liberty Festival in London, and at Weymouth's Olympic event this summer. It was shown on the BBC's 19 Big Screens throughout the UK in 2011 and reached an audience of more than 60,000 people. It won 3rd prize at the Cornwall Film Festival.
The film was funded by Arts Council England and has been instrumental in placing GDance firmly on the map of inclusive dance in the UK.
Director of GDance Cath Wilkins said making dance films was a new departure which enabled the charity's work to be viewed by a national and international audience.
"It means we can capture our work on something as simple as a web link. The films can then be used as a teaching aid in the disability sector, as well as in maintstream education and arts venues. They are helping us to affirm our growing reputation as experts in inclusive dance.
"We are delighted with the international success of Beyond the Surface which is sending the message out across the globe that disability, dance and excellence do mix – and in a brilliant way."
GDance's supporters currently include Arts Council England, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and the BBC Children in Need Appeal.
