Dance Response
Dance is high on everyone's agenda at the moment. We have the Government's target of 5 hours of PE and School a week for those under 16 by 2010, plus the recently announced government ‘Cultural Entitlement' of 5 hours of arts activity a week for each pupil. Dance fits into both of the cultural and physical activity offers and demand has never been higher from schools for dancers to enhance the work undertaken by members of staff. Dance Response is a one stop solution to solve the problems of dancers and those looking to work with dancers. It provides an informed high quality service to schools and other potential employers of dancers. The on-line shop and events sections of the website will enable quick and easy access to resources and information about training and dance events available to everyone who wants to dance. Dance is high on everyone's agenda at the moment. We have the Government's target of 5 hours of PE and School a week for those under 16 by 2010, plus the recently announced government ‘Cultural Entitlement' of 5 hours of arts activity a week for each pupil. Dance fits into both of the cultural and physical activity offers and demand has never been higher from schools for dancers to enhance the work undertaken by members of staff. Dance Response is a one stop solution to solve the problems of dancers and those looking to work with dancers. It provides an informed high quality service to schools and other potential employers of dancers. The on-line shop and events sections of the website will enable quick and easy access to resources and information about training and dance events available to everyone who wants to dance.
Managing Director - Keyna Paul
Keyna has played a key role in the development of dance within community and education settings for 20 years at both grass-roots and national levels. She is a trained dancer and qualified teacher and has worked as a dance consultant for several Education authorities. Keyna has written a number of teaching resources including the popular NON-SPECIALIST DANCE SURVIAL PACK for those teaching at foundation, KS1 and KS2. More recently she has focused on writing a degree to be offered as a partnership between the University of Lincoln and Lincolnshire Dance, a local dance agency. She has devised and delivered training programmes for teachers and artists, winning the ESF award for ‘Best Trainer' 2003-2005 (strangely in 2006). She has been a member of several national working parties and boards of national organisations. The most notable example of this is her work with the Executive Committee of the Foundation for Community Dance, where she was elected to the posts of vice-chair and chair. Keyna led on the development of Dance Links, part of DCMS/DfES PESSCL strategy leading on writing and disseminating Dance Links - A guide to delivering high quality dance for children and young people. Since the completion, in 2006, of Dance Links 1, Keyna has worked closely with the NDTA to devise and deliver the Making Links training programme. In fact it was this work that identified the need for a more strategic, easy to use approach that helped sports professionals and other teachers to connect with skilled dance providers and led Keyna to develop and refine the idea of a national ‘one stop' dance portal - Dance Response. Throughout her career she has been a frequent contributor to publications and conferences, speaking and writing on topics such as dance education, training community dance practitioners and developing dance in rural communities. She has continued to study throughout her career gaining postgraduate qualifications in dance and mentoring from the universities of Surrey and Leeds Metropolitan respectively.
Volunteer - Gary Vaughan Gary hails from North Shropshire and joined the Royal Navy straight from school in 1969, serving his country for 10 years before returning to Shropshire to work in Civil Engineering and Grounds
Maintenance. In 1987, while carrying out demolition work at the Central Ordnance Depot at Donnington, Gary was involved in an accident where he fractured his back and was rendered paraplegic. Prior to his accident Gary's main sporting interest was Rugby Union a keen runner and ever present first team prop his confinement to a wheel chair set him towards a glittering sporting career. He soon took up Wheel Chair Tennis and competed in open competitions in France, Belgium and Holland. Topping this in his forties and at the turn of the century he took up Sledge Hockey, playing Net Minder for the Cardiff Huskeys he took part in league and cup competitions across the country and in Europe earning the title of most valued player on several occasions; within a year he was in the GB squad. Following a successful campaign in Europe, the GB team qualified for the 2002 Para-Olympics in Nangano, Japan - Gary was selected to play. The team was again successful in qualifying for the 2006 games in Turin, Italy and Gary was in the team - but sadly had to withdraw at the last moment on medical grounds. The travelling and training schedules of Sledge Hockey, with ‘ice time' normally in the wee hours of the morning, are very demanding and Gary has now retired from competitive play, although he still enjoys a social game of tennis. Gary keeps himself busy with the administrative duties for the Oswestry Rugby Club 1st XV and new demands on his time from his 2 year old son Iuen, with talk usually coming round to his first love (in sport that is) of Rugby.
Volunteer - Malcolm Tarkenter After a spinal injury in 1974 at the age of 17 Malc joined the Oldham Owls in 1975 and was one of the earliest members of this fledging club. In this year he competed in his first Nationals representing Oldham at basketball. Shortly after this time he joined the Sheffield side Lodge Moor. During his twelve years with the Sheffield side he gained his first international honour (in 1979) when he was a member of the Great Britain U-23 team that took part in a tournament in Auch (France). In 1980 he was selected to represent Great Britain at the Paralympics in Arnhem (Holland). Between the years 1980-85 Malc took up winter sports for the disabled representing Great Britain in sledge hockey and sledge speed skating. In 1985 Malc moved to Oswestry and in 1987 was a founder member of the Oswestry club. He helped them gain 4th place in their first nationals. Malcolm returned to the Owls nest in 1989 and in his second spell at the club is enjoying what can only be described as a flight to the top. He was a member of the championship winning teams in 1989, 1990 & '97. In 1995/96 he was a member of the league and cup double team and again in 1998. At the age of 37 Malc was recalled to the Great Britain that won silver in the 1994 World Championships in Canada. In 1995 he helped his country to win Gold in the European Nations Championships and in 1997 was also in the team that narrowly failed to retain the same trophy. However, his greatest achievement to come when he helped Great Britain to win Silver at the 1996 Paralympic games in Atlanta. In 1998 Malc decided to hang up his international boots and gained his coaches badges.In 1999 he became assistant coach to the Great Britain ladies team that won Bronze in the European Nations Championships in Holland and was again their ass-coach at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney. His vast experience is still at the age of 50 a major factor in the Owls successes.
