What’s going on in our world
Bawren Tavaziva @ Gateway Studio
Image Credit: Jevan Chowdhury
Image Credit: Pete Huggins
Gateway recently had the privilege of working with Bawren Tavaziva!
Bawren Tavaziva, Artistic Director of Tavaziva Dance recently visited Gateway Studio to work with our Artistic Director Martin Hylton.
After leading an open professional class for three days Bawren kindly offered to extend class through the full week due to popular demand. During class with Bawren, local dance artists and students were able to explore his unique style and technique, a dynamic synthesis of contemporary, ballet and African dance, in an energetic, lively and supportive environment. We are extremely grateful to Bawren for his generosity in the studio and hope that this is just one of many visits the Gateway Studio!
Over the Road Studios
Over the Road Studios mid renovation and after—our new studio is almost complete!
1. Phoenix Youth Academy North East dancers with Martin Hylton & MPW Property Services 2. CapuaGate Dance Company Members.
Great news, we have a new studio!
Gateway Studio CIO are excited to start running classes in their new studio, ‘Over the Road Studios’ (literally over the road from their home at the Trinity Centre), 224 High Street, Gateshead. Thanks to funding from Arts Council England and Garfield Weston, and support from Gateshead Council, the new studio will provide a home for CapuaGate Dance Company.
The building is also being developed to house Gateway’s new Foundation Degree in Dance Performance in partnership with New College Durham and will provide Gateway with a decant space when the Trinity Centre Redevelopment Project commences.
Over the Road Studios is functional despite there being a bit of work to do to make it more comfortable, but students are excited to start training in the larger, brighter studio equipped with a new Harlequin sprung floor and vinyl.
In December, CapuaGate held a studio performance of their work which they developed during the first phase of a mentorship programme, where Gateway’s youth provisions also performed.
“This studio is a massive improvement from our smaller studio at the Trinity Centre. Ending 2023 with a studio performance was a huge achievement for Gateway and we are very pleased to have received some really great feedback from community members who attended. We are very excited to begin 2024 with in a fresh new space.” —Martin Hylton, Artistic Director/CEO
Gateway Studio is celebrating, after being awarded a £1.4 million grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, to transform the Trinity Centre on Gateshead High Street into a centre of arts, heritage and community.
Gateway Studio CIO is one of the few dance-centred arts organisations in the North East, and the only professional dance organisation in Gateshead. The funding will enable them to realise their exciting plans to acquire, restore and convert the John Dobson Grade I-listed former church, which is currently in a poor state of repair, into a contemporary space for use by local young people and the local community.
The building, on one of Gateshead’s oldest sites with the adjacent St Edmund’s Chapel dating back to the thirteenth century, will be a focal point on Gateshead High Street for the local community. Part of the development will see the stained-glass window restored to its former glory by a specialist company. There are also plans for a ‘Bell Tower Café’ which will serve healthy and nutritious food during the day, and on weekend evenings showcase local talent through open mic nights, acoustic sets and art exhibitions.
WE ARE CELEBRATING AFTER SECURING £1.4 MILLION IN NATIONAL LOTTERY FUNDING!!
Plans for the building also include the development of office accommodation and studio performance space, as well as the creation of opportunities for people to engage with the heritage of the building for the first time.
The award follows a developing funding grant of £100,300 awarded in 2019, to enable Gateway Studio to progress their initial plans.
Gateway is delighted to be working with The Church Commissions who will be publishing a draft Pastoral (Church Building Disposal) Scheme inviting the public to comment on the proposal to sell the building to Gateway. If successful, Gateway Studio will be able to move forward with the proposed project.
A submission is also being made by Gateway to the Diocese of Durham, for the purpose of ensuring proposals will meet with the requirements of faculty jurisdiction. A faculty is a form of ecclesiastical permission and is required before any works can be carried out to Church of England churches and burial grounds, and is needed here as the proposed project affects St Edmunds Chapel.
Commenting on the funding, Martin Hylton, Gateway’s founder and Chief Executive said:
“We are absolutely delighted with the support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which provides an amazing opportunity to breathe new life into a heritage building. Dance and the arts are powerful tools in transforming individuals and communities. This new development will not only put Gateshead firmly on the map in terms of developing and supporting professional artists but will also help to transform the local community”.
Anne Jenkins, Executive Director, Business Delivery at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“Investing in heritage means investing in the community it belongs to, which is why we are proud to support Gateway Studio to transform the Trinity Centre to become a cultural hub for Gateshead, thanks to National Lottery players. Our funding will not only preserve this important heritage building, but it will play a significant role in boosting health and wellbeing for the local community and young people in particular, and is a great example of the positive impact that heritage has on people across the UK.”
Councillor Angela Douglas, the Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure at Gateshead Council said:
“I’m delighted that Gateway Studio have received National Lottery Heritage Fund support to restore and convert the Trinity Centre on the Hight Street. It is an exciting and ambitious project that the team are bringing forward, I wish them the best of luck for the future restoration works. Gateway Studio are a shining example of a thriving charity with culture at the heart of everything they do. They are delivering programmes that benefit our communities throughout the borough. As one of our only dedicated dance spaces in the borough, I’m sure the regeneration of the Trinity Centre will unlock their full potential.”
Learn More about the Redevelopment Here
NSCD Undergraduate Experience Day
Saturday 15th October!!!!!!!!
Between 11am and 4pm we are hosting the brilliant Northern School of Contemporary Dance, who will be providing insight into their undergraduate courses. The day will be filled with workshops and demonstrations with plenty of time for questions. To register, click the button below!
NSCD+ 2022/23 APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!
Check out our NSCD+ page for more info.
Deadline for applications is Monday 12th September
Northern School of Contemporary Dance and GARTEWAY Studio announce new partnership supporting young dancers in the North East
Leading UK conservatoire for dance Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD) has launched a new partnership with Gateway Studio, a dance charity based in Gateshead. The partnership, titled NSCD + Gateway, aims to support young dancers aged 13-17 in the North East with access to pre-vocational dance training of the highest quality.
The partnership will nurture young talent through extra-curricular, out-of-school-hours classes for young people passionate about dance and movement. Additionally, it aims to offer possible routes for progression to Higher Education for those keen to pursue a career in the arts.
Sharon Watson, CEO and Principal of NSCD said:
“With the decline of dance and the arts more broadly in schools as a result of government side-lining, projects and partnerships like this are essential in plugging the gap. Gateway and NSCD will work together to bridge community engagement and conservatoire dance education to help the most talented students succeed and realise their full potential, regardless of background.
Furthermore I am delighted to be working with an institution led by two alumni of NSCD – Martin and Debbie Hylton, Artistic Directors of Gateway Studio. Our combined commitment and passion will no doubt ensure that this project delivers on its ambitions.”
Martin Hylton, Artistic Director said:
We are delighted to be able to attract such prestigious partners such as the NSCD to our base here in Gateshead. To be able to offer direct access to a leading conservatoire will change the landscape for many young dancers in the North East, offering further opportunities and pathways to a career in the arts.
Following a successful project pilot in 2022, a term-time year long course will commence in September.
A total of 6 hours’ intensive training per week will be offered, covering skills in dance technique, dance choreography and dance performance.
UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE DAY
Monday 31st January 2022
5:00pm - 7.30pm
Get a taste of the undergraduate courses at NSCD – the only specialist conservatoire for dance outside London. Hosted in partnership with Gateway Studio.
Join us at Newcastle High School for Girls, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 3BA
Take part in practical taught workshops
Ask staff your questions about courses and applications
Contact: info@gatewaystudio.org for more information.
CHRISTMAS OPEN DAY POSTPONED
In light in recent developments around the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of the Omicron variant, we have taken the difficult decision to postpone our Open Day until the new year.
We sincerely apologise for any disappointment or inconvenience caused. This decision has not been made lightly, but following recent comments made by The Chief Medical Officer, as well as guidance form the Local Authority, we feel that we have a responsibility to ensure the safety of Gateway Studio performers and guests alike.
We will continue to monitor the situation and look to propose a new date for the open day sometime in the new year.
Wishing you a safe and merry festive period from all at Gateway Studio!
PRESS RELEASE
£200,000 funding boost to dance and the arts in Gateshead
Gateshead based dance and arts charity, Gateway Studio is celebrating, after it was awarded £200,000 by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, to deliver dance and related arts and culture in Gateshead from 2021 to 2025.
Based in the heart of Gateshead town centre, Gateway Studio delivers community, education and professional dance activities, offering opportunities for young people to receive high quality dance training to pursue a successful career in dance and the arts.
The funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation will enable Gateway Studio to grow and develop and to provide more opportunities, not just to young people in Gateshead, but across the North East.
Commenting on the award, Martin Hylton Artistic Director and CEO of Gateway Studio said: “It’s amazing to be supported by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and we are extremely honoured to be awarded this funding with a foundation that shares the same values as Gateway.
“We believe that inclusivity in the arts has the power to bring communities together, to change lives and kick start careers. This funding will help us to do this.”
Jeff Dean, Chair of Gateway Studio, said: “With its roots planted firmly in dance excellence, Gateway has been working with people with different backgrounds and experiences for nearly 10 years, creating opportunities for their own growth and development whilst also enabling their engagement with arts and culture.
“We have ambitious plans to grow these opportunities further and are delighted to have the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation’s support to help us deliver.”
Heather Salmon from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation commented: “We are delighted to be able to support Gateway Studio and to be able to give them the opportunity to develop and grow stronger as an organisation. Their work will enable them to unlock the potential of many young people in the region and open up opportunities to them that they may not have previously had.”
Gateway Studio has recently secured development funding of over £100,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to create a development plan to transform the Trinity Centre on Gateshead High Street into a centre for Arts, Community and Heritage for the local community.
Please come and join Gateway Studio for our Christmas Open Day on Saturday 18th December
The doors to our studio at the Trinity Centre on Gateshead High Street will be open from 2pm – 4pm.
Entertainment will be provided throughout the afternoon by some of the best and brightest dance students we are proud to teach. Our Artistic Director and Founder, Martin Hylton, will be showcasing some lecture demonstrations with our students to illustrate what we at Gateway Studio are all about.
We will be presenting our ambitious plans to redevelop our Grade 1 listed John Dobson site and our role in helping to lead in the redevelopment Gateshead Town Centre.
We will also be launching our new heritage programme and information about how you can get involved.
So please, take a break from the last-minute festive season prep, enjoy some refreshments, and come and find out about our exciting plans for 2022 and beyond. We look forward to seeing you this Saturday.
Gateway Youth Group and Capua Gate Performing on Sunday 17th October
Our Youth and Community dance groups have been invited to take part in ‘The Patron’s Concert’ for the The Children’s Foundation.
Kicking off at 3pm in Kings Hall at Newcastle University’s Armstrong Building, our performers will be taking the stage alongside Bradley Creswick MBE and his formidable musical ensemble.
For more information and tickets, please click here!
Image courtesy of Phoenix Dance Theatre
Old Gateshead centre getting new lease of life with £100k National Lottery funding
Image credit: Lauren McWilliams, For You Photography
Burglars targeted volunteer-led Gateshead project - this was the community's inspiring response
World-renowned Phoenix Dance Academy launches satellite training programme in Gateshead
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/world-renowned-phoenix-dance-academy-10963730
Speaking, Livestream and Podcast Appearances
Our Artistic Director, Martin Hylton has been fortunate to contribute to local and international podcasts and stages.
TEDx talk: TEDxNewcastleUniversity 2019
How is dance connected to emotion?
“Dance is an opportunity to play, experiment & create: a space to turn emotion into movement.
Dance is to learn to fall, as when you fall you discover your vulnerability and this allows you to grow.”
- Martin Hylton, Artistic Director of Gateway Studio CIO
Speaking at TEDx Newcastle University Conference 'Build A Better Future' 2019
Northern Stage Theatre Podcast
Episode 11 - “What are you prepared to give?” - a conversation with Martin Hylton
Martin shares his experience of growing up in Leeds, and his journey in dance, as well as his experiences as a black dancer and leader in his own organisation.
In this discussion, Northern Stage examine the role the arts, and artists, have in reflecting that world, and in making and shaping it.
This conversation is between Louie and Martin Hylton, Artistic Director of Gateway Studios – joined by writer, theatre maker in the making, and Executive Assistant Humira Imtiaiz and Northern Stage Podcast Producer, Johnny Rothwell.
This episode is an emotionally honest expression and exploration of the stark realities and difficult experiences that racism in all its forms and causes, and how we are more than ever overdue the change that we are seeking.
#NurtureYourZest #100Conversations Episode 2 with special guest Martin Hylton and Ashleigh King
Are you one of our Gateway Studio students, hoping to be a professional dancer, and wondering what life as a professional dancer is like?
Gateway Studio Artistic Director Martin Hylton spoke to Ashleigh King, host of the Nurture Your Zest livestream and podcast.
Listen to discover how:
Martin has gone from being a professional dancer, training phenomenally hard, to creating a safe community space, where young people can walk through the door and immerse themselves in dance.
You’ll hear:
How hard a professional dancer trains
How performing and dancing can bring you to a place of serenity, beauty, calmness, and completeness
How breaking the prescribed rules in life and being curious can help you find your own unique path to success.