A COMMUNITY project exploring memories of dancing in the heyday of the 20th century seaside music scene is set to culminate with a celebratory public dance event in Dawlish.
Over the last few months, At The Hop! has seen older Dawlish residents in care home and community groups to share their reminiscences of going out dancing in their youth.
Recordings of the interviews have been used to create a 30-minute audio programme which will serve as an archive and educational resource for local schools, museums and libraries.
Now, the end of the project is being marked by a free, family-friendly, celebratory event that will be held in The Strand Centre in Dawlish on Saturday January 25.
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The night will feature live music from local band The Cherri Shades, who will play covers of the residents’ favourite 50s and 60s tracks, and a DJ playing records from the era.
The project has been created and led by Dr Tony Lidington, Senior Lecturer in the University of Exeter’s Department of Communications, Drama and Film, and Artistic Director of Dawlish arts organisation, Promenade Promotions (Prom-Prom).
It received £14,370 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
He said: ‘The aim of At the Hop! has been to develop pride in place, encourage social cohesion and intergenerational relationships, improve employment opportunities for young people and provide a celebration of the town in which we live.
‘Sadly, it is the reality that these inter-generational engagements rarely occur because local elderly folk have few opportunities to meet younger adults.
‘Dancing is a pass-time that many people enjoy in their youth, and the beauty of this project is that the care home residents are reflecting upon their experiences from when they would have been roughly the same age as their interviewers.’
Prom-Prom is a pioneering organisation, exploring heritage and popular performance, with 20 years of experience in delivering professionally-run, community projects.
In recent years it has focused on nurturing emerging local talent, and this project has enabled Dr Lidington to employ and train three local young people, teaching them new skills in oral history techniques and audio technology.
Maz McNamara, one of the At The Hop! trainees, said: ‘It’s been so fulfilling to be providing people with dementia the opportunity to reminisce and engage with vivid memories from good times in their youth. Seeing the way this lights them up has been incredibly touching.
‘I’m really grateful for what feels like a unique opportunity to serve the community through the arts – singing and laughing together and connecting with a different generation over our similarities, as well as differences.
‘It has inspired me to think more expansively about what kinds of community arts engagement are possible.’
The audio programme will be launched at the dance event, which will be held from 3pm to 6pm. Entry is free and attendees are encouraged to come in costume.