City dancers spread their wings in celebration

Dancers from a Chester-based recovery charity have qualified as peer mentors, thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund and the Chester Bluecoat Charity.

The dancers, from Fallen Angels Dance Theatre, received their AIM Qualifications Level 2 in Mentoring certificates from the Lord Mayor of Chester John Leather at a celebration at Storyhouse in November.

The qualification is part of a three-year pioneering project entitled Spreading Wings, for people in recovery from addiction, those experiencing an episode of mental health crisis or others battling a long term mental health condition.

Colette Jones described how the mentor course had taught her to become a more active listener. 

She said: “I love nothing more than watching other people succeed.  A supporting angel wraps their arms around another angel and takes them on a journey.”

Clare Roberts added: “Following the pandemic I think more people understand mental health adversity.  Sometimes when we come together with Fallen Angels we can feel broken, yet we can leave uplifted.  We deal with such different layers of emotion through dance.”

The celebration event was also an opportunity for the dancers to share their latest work, developing themes around the legend of Doctor Faustus.  Fallen Angels’ artistic director Paul Bayes Kitcher will choreograph FAUSTUS: That Damned Woman, written by Chris Bush and directed by Francesca Goodridge, at Storyhouse in February 2023.

Paul, himself in recovery from addiction, uses the creative work developed in workshops with Fallen Angels to inform his choreography. 

He said: “We have been looking at some of the themes in Faustus like war, death, famine and pestilence.  The story has many parallels to an addict’s experience – the war within our own selves, the mental and physical illness and the trauma.

 “When I work with the Angels they can release that trauma into a safe space.”

Fallen Angels Dance Theatre is company-in-residence at Storyhouse.  The Moving Monday workshop, from 12-2pm, is a focused movement session and Wellbeing Wednesday, from 11am-12.30pm, is a chance to check in and explore different aspects of wellbeing and mindfulness within a small group.  For more information contact:

jude@fallenangelsdt.org

Fallen Angels Dance Theatre: Recovery through dance theatre

Fallen Angels Dance Theatre (FADT) supports people in recovery from addiction to transform their lives and share the recovery journey with the wider public, through dance, performance and creativity. A Disabled-led company that recognizes the complex barriers that those in recovery face including mental health issues, disability and neurodiversity. The company supports a structured pathway to enhance recovery through creative activities that promote well-being and inclusion in the recovery process.

Led by Artistic Director Paul Bayes Kitcher, the professional dance company offers a unique experience for dance audiences to encounter work that has been developed by recovery artists. Participants are at the heart of our work, sharing their stories in our R&D process and developing dance skills in our workshop programme.  Auditioning and performing in our professional company show how creative intervention can make a positive and lasting change in recovery from addiction.

Pictured - Members of Fallen Angels Dance Theatre (in costume) with Lord Mayor of Chester John Leather.