Journal: Finding My Rhythm & Setting the Stage by Bakani Pick-Up Photos taken on tour and at the Dance House by Bakani Pick-Up 1) Observing Class with/gyda Faye Tan 2) Visiting Theatr Clwyd on tour 3) Watching our technicians working on stage 4) Attending Watch Dance Class with local photographers and artists 5) Technical Rehearsals for Waltz by/gan Marcos Morau 6) Bows after Infinity Duet by/gan Faye Tan a Cecile Johnson Soliz Photo of Bakani by Ellywel Photography I recently made the transition from freelance artist to Artistic Director (& Joint CEO) at National Dance Company Wales (NDCWales). The two experiences seem worlds apart, yet they’re intertwined in how we encounter people. We dance, and we dance with others, though the mechanisms aren’t the same. Every shift in how the arts are economically supported impacts people’s lives. Regardless of the scale, people always show up whether it’s the same faces or new people. Dance inevitably holds meaning for people in dynamic ways. Behind all the activities are countless hours of fundraising, producing, coordinating, and delivery. It’s a real pleasure to now be able to take my previous experiences and apply them to the role here in Wales as I encounter new people who wish to engage with dance. As I begin this journey as Artistic Director (& Joint CEO) with NDCWales, I wanted to capture my early experiences and share a glimpse into finding my rhythm and working with the team to set the stage for the future. So here goes… I joined the company on 15th September and by 17th September we’d begun our tour at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff. I’ve spent a lot of time meeting partner organisations, artists and supporters of the company, and I’m overjoyed by the amount of support we as a company have received from every corner of Wales, and across the border. Behind the scenes, I am surrounded by people who believe in the potential of dance to impact the quality of people’s lives. This may be through joy, entertainment, learning, or socialising. I’ve been fortunate to enter a role where all members of the team have strong relationships with dance, particularly its potential to be life affirming. It is evident to me that NDCWales is an ambassador through which we can deliver dance experiences, to the best of our ability and capacity, from Bangor to Newport, Ipswich to Germany, and beyond. The stories we are telling are not meant to promise a singular perspective of the world, but instead the varied ways we all encounter life and creativity. At the heart of these stories, whether explicitly or subconsciously, it’s informed by life in Wales and the people who call this wonderful place home, even if for a short while. I’ve been traveling as an observer to every tour stop we’ve had so far, which also means visiting new places in Wales for the first time. I’ve found moments to walk through cities and towns, meeting people and taking in the cultural surroundings that differ from place to place. As an Artistic Director of a National company, it is essential, I believe, to gain understanding by listening, conversing and engaging with people across the country, and the tour provides an invaluable opportunity to do just this. The idea our work should be varied and reflective of life and creativity, and that different work speaks to people in different ways is palpable in the conversations I’ve had with audiences. This sentiment feels critical to me: to maintain a vision that we’re not making work for just one group of people. In that sense, we know as a company that we cannot make work to appeal to literally everyone, but that doesn’t mean we’ll not try to share work that, in many ways, carries universal themes most people can relate to. I hope that as our programming evolves over the years, it will always be evident that this sits at the centre of our curatorial decision-making, and we’ll also try now and then to challenge expectations. So far, I’ve also had the pleasure of teaching classes for the company dancers, where time allows, and we’ve also been joined by guest dancers in the studio through our open company classes, which is always a welcome experience. I’ve spent time in the studio during rehearsals, watching the dancers with our Rehearsal Director, Victoria, as they work through notes and polish the pieces for tour. It’s a real privilege and a joy to witness. Sandwiched around the time I get to spend in the studio, I’ve also been engaged in administrative meetings looking at our day-to-day operations, planning where we will be next month and working on refining our business plan and strategic priorities that will help us set a course of where we wish to move toward in the year ahead, and beyond. To be able to do all this successfully and sustainably, it requires the whole team to work together, unpicking and problem solving, to find the best process and working practice. This is all made possible by the fact that staff, within their individual roles, show up consistently to the utmost of our abilities. I’ve also entered an environment that already has all the right ingredients for us to step forward and be daring in our ambitions to keep exploring different and positive ways of working. Above all else, we miss so much about the intricacies that hold this company together when we fail to acknowledge, first and foremost, that this company is sustained and driven by many people, not just one or two. It’s only my first two months in the role, but I can confidently say the following. Welsh culture and heritage are at the heart of everything we do and always will be. We must continue to find new ways to diversify our perspectives. People want to see dance, talk about dance, and dance everywhere you go. Time is essential for making decisions that anticipate and deliver the best outcomes for sustainability, and to do this, we must work as a community. And lastly, it’s clear, and palpable, that the arts are at grave risk of being depleted to a point where we will see fewer and fewer people from working-class and marginalised communities, like me, in roles such as these and others. There is much work to do, together, to change that very real possibility. So, it’s already abundantly clear to me that we’ve found each other at the right time, and I can’t wait to experience the rest of this new journey together as a company. It’s been a busy, exciting, and productive start, and the months and years ahead mark the beginning of a bold new chapter. I hope this brief insight I’ve shared through a short journal, has been interesting to read and gives you a sense of what I’ve been up to. Most of all, I hope it encourages you to stay connected with us as the future unfolds. Diolch,Bakani Gallery