Chester dancers open doors during lockdown

Recovery dancers from Chester are celebrating being together while apart during a year of lockdowns.

The dancers have taken part in a project involving more than 50 people from the north west of England in recovery from addiction to drugs or alcohol or battling mental health adversity.

The Together While Apart project, by Fallen Angels Dance Theatre (Company-in-Residence at Storyhouse in Chester), explores how ‘doorways’ have become a metaphor for the way we have lived during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Artistic director Paul Bayes Kitcher explains: “People all over the country have been challenged by this year when we have been forced to stay in, work from home, forbidden from meeting friends and family or welcoming anyone in our homes.

“This resonates with people in recovery from addiction who often feel trapped behind their own personal door, lockdown or not. 

“When our mental health is distorted we can have a delusionary perception of ourselves, like looking into a muddy lake and seeing a clouded reflection or looking into a cracked mirror.”

Paul, a former professional ballet dancer and recovering addict himself, used spiritual author Eckhart Tolle’s book The Power of Now to spark creativity with his dancers.

He said: “The book is about quieting thoughts and seeing the world around us in the present moment which was a perfect launchpad for our movement and creativity.

“Our true self is always the same and by quieting the noise pollution in the mind we can free ourselves from being trapped in our own personal doorway.”

It was recently announced by the Government (April 2) that Fallen Angels Dance Theatre will receive a Government grant from the second round of the Culture Recovery Fund, distributed by Arts Council England.

Claire Morris, chief executive of Fallen Angels Dance Theatre said: “The grant is a lifeline for us in the work we do with vulnerable people and we are very grateful to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport.

“People in recovery from addiction or with mental health adversity have been particularly affected by the pandemic and continued funding for our work helps them realise their potential.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our funders including Cheshire Community Foundation, the Steve Morgan Foundation and Arts Council England.”

Fallen Angels Dance Theatre is the only company in the UK using dance, movement and creativity in their work with people in recovery from addiction. 

A video of the Together While Apart project will be launched via Twitter @FallenAngelsDT and Instagram @fallenangelsrising on Saturday, April 24.

To find out more about Fallen Angels Dance Theatre or to refer yourself or someone else contact claire@fallenangelsdancetheatre.co.uk.

Pictured - Dancers from Fallen Angels Dance Theatre explore how doorways become a metaphor for the times we live in. 

(Picture credit:  Jazamin Sinclair)

Fallen Angels Dance Theatre: Recovery through dance theatre

Fallen Angels Dance Theatre (FADT) supports people in recovery from addiction to transform their lives and share the recovery journey with the wider public, through dance, performance and creativity. A Disabled-led company that recognizes the complex barriers that those in recovery face including mental health issues, disability and neurodiversity. The company supports a structured pathway to enhance recovery through creative activities that promote well-being and inclusion in the recovery process.

Led by Artistic Director Paul Bayes Kitcher our professional dance company offers a unique experience for dance audiences to encounter work that has been developed by recovery artists. Participants are at the heart of our work, sharing their stories in our R&D process and developing dance skills in our workshop programme.  Auditioning and performing in our professional company show how creative intervention can make a positive and lasting change in recovery from addiction.

Since 2015 we’ve performed annually at UK Recovery Walks. In 2018 we were shortlisted finalists for Partnership Working from the Association for Public Service Excellence Awards. In 2019 we met & performed for HM the Queen & HRH Duchess of Sussex. We also worked in residence at Tate Liverpool responding to the opening of the Keith Haring exhibition.