Support for refugees and asylum seekers...

In 2014, West Yorkshire Playhouse became the first ever Theatre of Sanctuary, a public statement and recognition of our commitment to being a place of safety, hospitality and support for refugees and people seeking asylum.

We work closely with refugee organisations and with volunteers from the refugee and asylum seeker community in Leeds to offer a range of creative and practical projects, and we extend a warm welcome to the Playhouse community.

We have a dedicated programme of work during Refugee Week consisting of seminars, performances and workshops and throughout the year we offer a number of tailored and bespoke projects.

We provide creative programmes and one-to-one support to help participants develop their skills & explore potential career opportunities. We offer a range of support options for those still in education through to the long-term unemployed.

Our Model:
Since our establishment, Immediate Theatre has been committed to providing first-time employment opportunities and support for young people who would otherwise face significant barriers to employment.

Our programmes offer regular 1-2-1 support as well as group workshops, which aim to develop key employability skills through creative activities.

We have been providing high quality open access youth theatres on estates in Hackney since 1998. The programme has engaged thousands of participants who do not traditionally have access to arts opportunities. All our sessions are free, inclusive and open to all.

Our Model:
This established model aims to help participants develop improved interpersonal skills, artistic abilities, and emotional health & wellbeing, which has been endorsed by the Centre for Youth Impact as having a significant impact on young people. The projects are delivered within a community context and help to build community cohesion.

We are currently running nine free weekly youth theatres on Estates across Hackney for young people from ages 5-25, including a dedicated session for young people with disabilities. We also offer school holiday projects which provide participants with hot food or refreshments. We offer accreditation for participants, which include AQAs, and regularly submit young people for achievement awards.

Dedicated SEND Group (12-25)
We run a dedicated session for young people aged 12-25 with disabilities on Monday evenings. The weekly drama sessions provide a fun and supportive environment for participants to express themselves.

Blue Apple’s dance programme is designed to be a fun and creative means of developing fitness and self-expression.

"Dance helps to develop creativity, confidence and mobility. It’s also a great way to engage in exercise and is lots of fun!”

Some of us are natural dancers, but have not had the discipline of dancing with others in a routine before. Many have only danced to pop music and some are too shy to have done much of that. At Blue Apple we began by learning to be aware of others in the dance group, to move in time with each other, to react and respond, learn and remember a routine.

Through dance people with differing degrees of mobility have to think about timing and moving together, being aware of where each person is, responding to music and remembering a simple routine which may involve working in a circle, in pairs or as part of a large choreographed group. People who have never danced before appear delighted with their achievement.

We develop our dance experience in many ways. Some of us dance because we just love dancing and music and want to get fit. Some dance to help tell the story in our main shows and others tour commissioned dance performances locally and nationally.

Classes follow the school academic term.

£88 per term payable in one or two instalments. (£83 if already a Blue Apple Company member).

By the time you reach our Ballet Improvers 2 classes, you will have a greater understanding of the Ballet vocabulary. You will build on the essential technique, which was established in the Ballet Beginners and Ballet Improvers 1 courses. You will gain a broader understanding of the art form and increase your technical ability.

This class is suitable for those with previous ballet experience.

BALLET IMPROVERS 2 CLASSES CONTENT
Exact course content may differ depending on the duration of the course, your individual needs and those of the group collectively. However, topics covered will generally include:

- A greater understanding of Ballet technique
- Barre exercises as a warm up for centre practice with a focus on muscle strength and conditioning
- Concentration on centre practice, pirouettes (turns), and allegro (jumps)
- Improved balance, coordination, turn out and technique
- Master challenging balances, footwork combinations and extended choreographic phrases
Like all of our ballet classes, you will be given friendly feedback and support from your tutor throughout the course. There is an overall higher level of difficulty throughout the course than Improvers 1.

Ballet Improvers Classes 1 will focus on developing your athleticism and grace whilst introducing more technically demanding elements of the art form. This class is aimed at people who have completed a Ballet Beginners class or have some previous ballet experience.

You will concentrate on continuing to master the fundamental skills of Classical Ballet through repetition, which will enable your muscle memory to connect. More advanced steps will be taught, expanding your knowledge of the Ballet vocabulary. You will apply what we have learned in the Ballet Beginners classes, improving posture, balance and coordination.

BALLET IMPROVERS CLASSES 1 - COURSE CONTENT
Exact course content may differ depending on the duration of the course, your individual needs and those of the group collectively. However, topics covered will generally include:

- Continue to improve your posture and balance
- Develop a greater awareness of the space that your body inhabits
- Learn longer and deeper stretching exercises
- Introduction to petit batterie (beats), directions and grand allegro (big jumps)
- Master more challenging balances, footwork combinations and extended choreographic phrases
A with all of out ballet courses, you will be given friendly feedback and support from your tutor throughout the course.

Our Ballet Beginners Course provides a fun introduction to Ballet, designed for adults of all fitness levels. Our experienced ballet professionals will guide you through fundamental techniques in a supportive and enjoyable environment.

If you are new to Ballet then this course is the perfect way to start your journey. These ballet lessons are also suitable for those of you seeking to refresh your skills.

The classes are held in top central London dance studios.

Ballet, as well as being both a beautiful and a highly technical dance, is also great fun and a perfect way to keep yourself fit and in shape. Come and experience Ballet in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

If you are a complete beginner who has always fancied trying a ballet class but not sure if it will be for you, take one of our Ballet Taster Classes. You’ll get a flavour of what ballet is about before you sign up for our longer course.

BALLET TASTER CLASSES CONTENT
Skills Explored:

- Understand posture and awareness of your body in space.
- Develop basic co-ordination of arms / feet / head.
- Learn basic combination of steps
- Barre exercises and stretches including learning each exercise name and meaning
This taster's the perfect way to make sure Ballet is definitely for you - and if it is, City Academy is the place to do it.