With a shuffle and a two step, Amanda Griffkin moves on.
ID: The photo shows leaving Artistic Director Amanda Griffkin. The photo is in black and white and shows Amanda sat in the Dance Centre studio, she is visibly responding to something happening in the space although we can’t see. She has curly dark hair and glasses. Photo Credit: Full Mongrel & Co
The board of Impelo has announced that Artistic Director Amanda Griffkin will be leaving after more than nine years leading the company.
Director of the board of Trustees Jennifer Owen Adams said:
“It is with more than a little sadness that we bid farewell to Amanda. What a journey we have been on under her charismatic and determined leadership! With Amanda at the helm, the board has witnessed the transformation of the company from local authority arts service, Powys Dance into Impelo, a small but mighty independent charitable organisation.
Making the joy and power of dance accessible to everyone is what drives us at Impelo. In everything we do, we invite and encourage all ages and walks of life to discover and develop their passion for self-expression, and enjoy the transcendental value of dance as a universal language.
We believe in the transformational power of dance, and we want to encourage it and share it in everything we do, wherever we do it. We also strive to expand our influence by showcasing the countless benefits of dance on bigger stages, and to secure a bright future of life changing experiences for everyone we reach. Over the last nine and a half years Amanda has placed the aims and values at the core of everything Impelo does; she will leave the organisation in fine shape as a result. We are incredibly grateful for all she has done; in particular for her continued leadership and vision throughout the pandemic, bringing the benefits of dance to people across Powys and well beyond when we were all unable to leave our homes. Amanda, we will miss you , and wish you every happiness for what lies ahead”
ID: The picture is a cartoon graphic of a red heart with grey coloured beams coming out of the one side. The style of the cartoon is sharp and angled but it gives off a heartfelt feeling.
Amanda said
“After 9 and a half years with Powys Dance / Impelo, it is time for me to move on. I am hugely grateful to everyone we have worked with in that time for the support they have given me, and particularly those who took a chance on me and a new charity.
It has been a privilege to work with such a dedicated team on our portfolio of activity. I am truly proud of this company and what we have achieved together. For me a real highlight has been the creation of Y Nyth, a business development and networking programme for independent dance artists and practitioners living and working in Powys.
ID: The picture shows 4 dancers and Amanda Griffkin in the studio, collaborating in some movement. 2 of the movers are reaching and interacting, one is watching and 2 others are working on other movement. The studio is bright with a wall of mirrors, the windows give a lovely natural light. If you look closely in the mirror you can see Johnny Cotsen who supported the development of CELL making it accessible from creation. Photo Credit: Full Mongrel & Co
I’ve enjoyed challenging expectations of community dance by bringing together the aesthetic and artistic values of professional dance production with a strong participant voice to projects such as the intergenerational dance installation Under Dark Skies.
ID: This picture is from Under Dark Skies R&D at the Elan Valley. Under Dark Skies was an intergenerational project, commissioned by People Dancing. It explored the dark sky status of the Elan Valley through movement, sound and film. In this picture we see 4 female dancers, 3 youth age dancers and 1 over 50’s dancer. They are in a forest area of the Elan Valley, positioned on different levels it shows each participant looking up at the sky in different dance poses. Photo Credit: Impelo
We’ve forged exciting partnerships to develop ambitious sci-dance touring work for children and families including CELL, with science input from Imperial College London, University of Oxford, and set design by Steve Messam.
The power of our shared vision and ambition for what community dance could look like for the people of Powys has propelled the work and I am very proud of all we have achieved in the last six years together as a charity. I am particularly grateful to the board of Impelo. I couldn't have asked for a more inspiring, supportive team - diolch o galon”.
ID: The image is from CELL R&D. It shows Griffkin sat on the floor in blue joggers and a green jumper, she is looking at 4 dancers all stood and in the same position. With their arms they are creating a circle and it frames the dancers faces as they link them together. The photo takes place in the dance studio with wooden floors, mirrored walls, stage lighting and big windows. The CELL set is all around them, imagine giant cells in purple, green and blue. There is also a see through cell and white cell. Photo Credit: Full Mongrel & Co
Looking to the future, Jennifer said:
“Amanda leaves Impelo in such a strong position and we are sure that when the time comes to recruit for her replacement, the role will be a highly desirable one. For the immediate future, we are pleased to announce that Jemma Thomas, who has been working alongside Amanda at Impelo for several years, will take on the role of Interim Artistic Director for the next six months. Jemma together with Executive Director Suzy West will ensure that the great work the company has been doing in the fields of dance and health, creative learning and equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging will continue to grow .
For the board, Jemma is the perfect choice to continue the work that she has already been doing at Impelo. Jemma is well known and respected both within Powys and in the broader dance sector for the work that she has been doing on Codi, Impelo’s youth led dance programme for girls and young women. She has a strong focus on exploring the issues which are ‘live’ for the young women; increasing body image and self confidence through movement. As part of the project, Jemma enabled the young people to commission 14 professional dancers and artists to work with them. The resulting choreographed piece was a national finalist for U Dance. Jemma has also led on our increasing work responding to the social impact of the pandemic; prioritising work with under 4’s including Big Fish Baby Fish and led on on our Foyle Foundation funded Y Nyth programme creating employment opportunities and professional development routes for professional dancers in Powys”.
ID: The photo shows interim Artistic Director, Jemma Thomas. The photo is black and white and takes place in a hall, Jemma is visibly teaching a class as you can see some participants around her. She is sat on the floor, crossed legged and with her arms held out with hands stretched like stars. She has long light hair and is smiling. Photo Credit: Ali Curzon Photography
Jemma trained in Theatre and Performance at the University of Plymouth where she specialised in Dance, performing at the Barbican Theatre in Plymouth, the Tobacco Factory in Bristol and the Roland Levinsky Theatre. In a move that seemed almost foretold, Jemma returned to Wales and began delivering sessions at the Dance Centre for Impelo – thirty years earlier Jemma’s grandparents Ted and Olwyn taught sequence and ballroom dance in the very same hall! In 2012 Jemma undertook an apprenticeship in Community Dance with Rubicon Dance in Cardiff before working freelance for Rubicon and Impelo, shaping her own dance career undertaking choreography work with Mid Powys Youth Theatre and delivering workshops and classes for a range of companies and organisations in Wales.
Jemma explains what motivates her work:
“My biggest passion is the power of the participant and making Impelo part of community life here in Powys, whether that’s through classes, projects, partnerships, performances etc. Unlocking creative confidence is something I want for all young people in Powys and I believe dance can be the catalyst for this. Artistically my interests lie in multidisciplinary work, I love watching dance that is visually exciting and look forward to collaborating with artists in other disciplines to offer alternative routes into movement for our participants. The model of creating professional work in Powys with our existing team of dancers and or new dancers to Impelo is something that will remain at the forefront of Impelo’s work, the dancers will continue to be offered artistically exciting work that will cross-pollinate our outreach work with our community.
ID: Image is from HATCH - a dancer development programme from Summer 2020. The image shows dancers moving in the dance studio. The shot is wide, showing the wooden floor and stage lighting. The dancer in the forefront has red trousers and rainbow socks, her hair is curly and dark and the shot visibly shows she is moving. Photo Credit: Full Mongrel & Co
Developing our work for early years is a big passion for me, that magic age range of 0 - 5 years is so vast and we want to develop a movement methodology in a range of ways that supports happy, healthy babies to be physically confident and creative by the time they are 5. A huge part of the early years work is our relationships and support for parents, particularly those who are first time parents, and at the moment most likely had a baby during the pandemic.
ID: Image shows some early years work taking place in the dance studio. It show’s participants under 5 years sat in a circle with their arms stretched above their heads. It also shows parents joining in too and the studio is full of different props to develop movement. Photo Credit: Impelo
I see our role as connecting and creating pathways by developing the dance centre programme, ensuring there are pathways into dance that start at 0 years and continue right up to 100 years. I am delighted that the board has entrusted me with the artistic leadership of the company, alongside Executive Director Suzy West, ensuring that provision supports participants and their needs. I am looking forward to co-leading an organisation that listens to its communities and evolves to support everyone’s dance journey.”