People Dancing

Anjali Dance Company is a professional dance company. All of Anjali's dancers have a learning disability. The company produces and tours performances as well as undertaking educational work. Here Nicole Thomson interviews Mark Barber, a dancer with the company

Nicole: What is Anjali Dance Company? Where is the company based?

Mark: Anjali is a professional dance company all members have a learning-disability. We have six dancers. Three have been in the company since 1998 and we have three apprentices. Anjali is based at The Mill Art Centre in Banbury, Oxfordshire.

Nicole: What does Anjali mean to you in your life?

Mark: It is my dream to be a dancer. It is my job. It has improved my performance skills and I feel happy and proud to be in a dance company.

Nicole: What do you like about being in Anjali?

Mark: Meeting new people. Friendship. Seeing other performances. Working with different choreographers. Going on tour. Running our own workshops. It has improved my confidence. Making and performing our own work

Nicole: Can you tell us about your own work?

Mark: We have started to choreograph our own dance pieces. The first one was 'Buzz Off 'Its about a mad scientist and the second called 'Red Planet' is based on Star Trek.

Nicole: Is there anything you don't like?

Mark: Its sad if someone leaves after a long time. Its hard to find another dancer to take their place. Sometimes we don't like getting an early night before a performance and we don't drink any alcohol or coke when we are working!

Nicole: Tell us about the workshops you teach.

Mark: We do them ourselves. We help people to dance. We inspire other people. Sometimes we teach movements from one of our dances. Sometimes we do demonstrations.

Nicole: You have been to see other dance companies. Who have you seen lately?

Mark: Biserk Dance Co at The Mill, Charneroi at The Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Nicole: Can you tell me about the Charneroi Dance Co?

Mark: They are a very exciting company. They used big mirrors hanging from the ceiling and it looked like there were more dancers. We went to a talk with the choreographer afterwards.

Nicole: What have you learned from seeing other dance companies perform?

Mark: We go and see other dance and theatre companies. We watch dance videos. We look at the movements, flow, focus, lights, costumes, and music - the whole thing. We get more ideas for own work. It gets our minds going. Every company is different.

Nicole: After seeing other dance companies perform, how do you see Anjali in the professional dance world. What does Anjali have to give?

Mark: We show what skills we have. We help other people to start dancing. Sometimes people are surprised by seeing what we can do. People like to watch us. Especially our own dances like Buzz Off - it made them smile. We have our own style.

Nicole: Do you feel your body has changed in the way it moves after being in Anjali for 4 years?

Mark: Yes, some of the dance moves were difficult at first, now it is easier. I can remember more movements. I am fitter and stronger and can feel movements flowing through my body. I am more confident. I am more flexible.

Nicole: Can you tell us about a typical Anjali day?

Mark: When we arrive at the studio we start to warm up. Then we have a company class. We do choreography and creative exercises. We also do: circuit training, healthy eating, yoga, massage, keep our folders, watching videos, take part in discussion and have meetings about company business. We make our own notes and drawings and we have a 'word of the week' last week it was 'focus'.

Nicole: Where do you see the company going in the future?

Mark: Touring all over this country, in Europe and the further away. We would like to make a film and be on TV. We want to show the world what we can do and help others to do the same.

Nicole: Can you tell me about the new work you are making?

Mark: We are using very modern equipment like cameras, computers and film. We are just about to start training in this work. We are using digital technology. It is very exciting and we are looking forward to it.

Mark Barber, Dancer and Nicole Thomson, Artistic Director, Anjali Dance Company. Email: info@anjali.co.uk

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Animated: Summer 2002