Something exciting is happening at Bucks New University

TRADED – an interdisciplinary performance project

An interdisciplinary performance shining a spotlight on human trafficking and child prostitution is being put together by a range of creative courses at Bucks.

TRADED will be performed at Wycombe Town Hall on Tuesday 17 November and is curated by professional choreographer Sara Dos Santos.

This collaborative project is supported by Esther Lawton and Lynn Bouchier from the Dance Department, who have teamed up with Carrie Mueller from Performing Arts, Jenny Wade from the SU and Steven Thomas from the Performing Arts Society to invite students from the Film, Fashion and Fine Arts departments to also take part and for them in turn to promote the project to any other creative students who want to be involved. 

Places are available for musicians, singers, Beat boxers, and rappers, set designers, spoken word artists, product and graphic designers and fine artists.

Everyone involved will have a first meeting on Wednesday 14 October. Sara will introduce the project and hand out an initial task to which the students will respond by developing performance, installation, video or art pieces.

The students will work independently but share their progress in meetings and general rehearsals before the performance. It is a fantastic opportunity for students to work creatively on their own projects and get their voices heard whilst being guided by a professional artist and lecturers from our creative courses. And it is all for a good cause, too.

Sara is the artistic director and choreographer of EIC Dance Theatre, an emerging contemporary jazz company whose focus is to encourage and inspire change through the medium of dance.

Established in 2011, EIC creates thought-provoking productions that raise awareness of social and political issues. The company’s current production “Frontline” raises awareness against human trafficking and child prostitution and was inspired by an outreach project to Brazil in 2013.

EIC Dance Theatre works in partnership with Meninadanca, a not-for-profit organisation that works with at-risk girls in communities along the 116 Highway in Brazil, bringing hope and changing lives through the power of dance. All earnings from the performance will go to Meninadanca.

TRADED is an extension of “Frontline” and aims to connect students from different disciplines, raise awareness and inspire change. It aims to empower participants to create thought provoking work, which impacts the community and develops a more sustainable creative economy.

Students involved can therefore classify their hours worked on the performance as volunteering hours. This can be logged through the Students’ Union’s volunteering department and can contribute to a volunteering award.

If anyone is interested about this project and would like to get involved or hear more about it, please contact Jenny.Wade@bucks.ac.uk.

The performance will be held on Tuesday 17 November at 7.30pm at the Town Hall; tickets will cost £5 and £3 concession and can be obtained through the Wycombe Swan webpage.

Photo Credits: JCAllsop Photography - all rights are reserved to EIC Dance Theatre 

We will regularly update on the progress of this fantastic opportunity, so stay tuned.