It’s not surprising that for the historic venue’s 10th anniversary, celebrated this year, director Gregory Nash announced expansion plans that would make The Point in Eastleigh (Hampshire) the only theatre in the country with space devoted solely for the creation of new dance work. Nash is one of very few high profile theatre directors with a solid dance background.
After seventeen years as a choreographer, dancer and teacher, working internationally in opera, theatre and dance, Nash decided to go back to university. Graduating almost a decade ago with an MA in Arts Management from City University in London, he was snapped up by Val Bourne as programme manager for Dance Umbrella.
Nash’s commitment to dance extended beyond his tenure at Dance Umbrella. In addition to 3 years at the British Council as Drama and Dance Projects Manager, Nash also enjoyed a stint as Director of Australia’s Ausdance – the country’s “professional dance advocacy organisation for dancers, choreographers, directors and educators.” In an interview by Eleanor Brickhill for Real Time Arts, Nash revealed his passion and belief in UK independent dance, which he described as “politicised, organised and well regarded by the mainstream.”
Now that he is head of his own impressive and widely respected theatre institution, Nash has realised a long time ambition to turn himself into a metaphorical watering can, raining down on the roots of grassroots independent dance. As part of it’s drive to involve and inspire the local community The Point offers dance classes catering for adults of all abilities for only £20.00 for 5 weeks. The classes are run by Lila Dance, which recently began a two year period as an associate company at The Point. The Point’s Dance Development initiative also supports groups such as Outside the Box and the Feet First Youth Dance Company in contemporary dance and performance classes for young people.
The Dance Development team works closely with Point Out, which manages community outreach projects across the borough of Eastleigh, involving over 12,000 participants in around 200 projects each year. Everyone can get involved and there are specific projects aimed at youth, the elderly, disabled and able bodied people who want to explore their creativity in a variety of artforms. Best of all the projects include working with professional artists.
Some of the most popular courses run through Point Out include the hip hop dance classes (that were such a hit organisers had to run two courses!) and the education and outreach programs run by respected professional dance companies such as The Featherstonehaughs and Random Dance Company.
The Eastleigh Borough Council’s commitment to the arts is laid bare in it’s arts strategy but The Point serves as a major focus when it comes to delivering on the strategy’s objectives.
As well as it’s work with the Borough Council, The Point has sought out new partnerships with dance development agency Hampshire Dance. As part of the venue’s Point10 programming strand (in recognition of the positive impact The Point has had on dance over the past decade, and which Nash hopes it will continue to have in the decade to come), The Point is hosting a dance symposium for students and educators in February 2007.
Of course there is more to The Point than just dance. Earlier this year saw plenty of song when the venue hosted Forever in Blue Jeans, a tribute show starring ‘Stars in Their Eyes’ contestant Robert Leslie, as part of the Eastleigh Mayor’s annual fundraising appeal. And popular kitsch aside The Point boasts an autumn season featuring a real mixed bag of dance, drama, Honor Blackman and a foyer photographic exhibition.
For a theatre operating outside the country’s major cultural cities, The Point is proving more of a leader than a follower. Not only has the venue sourced and staged a quality raft of professional entertainment, it has engaged the community through innovation and an unswerving commitment to developing talents many probably never knew they had. The Point is very much Eastleigh’s arts hub and it’s attitude is best summed up in the mission statement of Stop GAP Dance Company, one of The Point’s creative partners. “StopGAP’s vision is to create a world continually searching for what can be done, refusing to accept the phrase It cannot be done.’” Bravo!
