Many people gathered to enjoy an emotional and unique contemporary performance at the inclusive outdoor centre of Limemead Farm, near Halstock, where the arts combined and creativity excelled in a joyful celebration of midsummer.

Midsummer Dance is an exciting inclusive project, initiated by Rachelle Green from Core Education three years ago and has since been celebrated each year during midsummer at their outdoor education centre.

Over three days, workshops brought together people of all ages and abilities with a professional collaboration between musician/composer Andrew Dickson, community dance artist Anna Golding, and community artist Mickey Bonome.

Students from Lufton College, adults from Yeovil and Bridport with learning difficulties, plus adults and children from the local community, all took part in the three days of workshops, with a performance at the end. Feedback shows they thoroughly enjoyed the experience:

“Everything I see are colours, my sense of creativity has improved.

Dancing and being outside has helped me relax”.

“How easily creative communities occur and everyone is open to sharing and caring”

“I was impressed with how my students responded very differently to how

they normally would do in this environment”.

The expressive and moving performance led the audience through the outstanding landscapes of the farm. Performance spaces were gently decorated and sculpted from the natural surroundings as the dancers moved between trees with voice, colour and music; through the long grasses of the meadows and through dance; exploring and engaging with the environment.

“A truly magical combination of art and nature coming together with an emotional feeling of community and of coming together”, said one audience member, “the excellence of dance amongst the beauty of the landscape bought me to tears. It was thought-provoking and a beautiful piece”.

Building on the success of this beneficial project, Core plans to extend Midsummer Dance to four days from next year. For more information about Core, including full details of their work and courses, please visit www.coreprojects.org.uk or call Rachelle and Alasdair on 01935 891661.