more about fancies of flight

This programme aims to see children thrive through structured physical contact and to create a total immersion environment dedicated to flight.  As well as developing physical skills, the children explore new opportunites to express themselves, their ideas, emotions and flights of fantasy.  It aims to nurture their hunger for knowledge and celebrates diversity.

Although the work is led by tutors in collaboration with the school's teachers, the programme will follow ideas and themes expressed and developed by the children themselves.

who can take part in this course?

This course is designed for over 5's.  It is a fantastic extension of the upside down programme but any child can take part, regardless of previous experience or their level of physical confidence.

If you'd like your child to attend a course or would like to introduce the course at your school or youth centre, contact us.

^top

programme themes & activities

transforming our ordinary space into an extra-ordinary space : By transforming a space we transform the perception and experience of that space, and part of ourselves.   The course includes building a site specific multimedia, experiential performance / installation with the children over a period of time.  

mapping : looking at the world from above, the children, teachers and parents will make maps of the place where the children live or go to school, their street, surrounding areas and well known landmarks such as local shops, parks etc.  They will research and collect photographs and images of places in the world viewed from above.

^top

parachuting : developing games and play with the white parachute, experiencing the sense of inside, under and above.  The group will work in the semi-dark projecting images of various landscapes, the sea, the sy etc to create a full immersion experience.

flight's fancy : looking at the Carnival as the great upside-down, where there is space for everyone's free expression, the course will look at costumes, masks and masquerades and create micro performances and costumes that deal with flight and lightness and   celebrate diversity - in culture, size, appearance, customs, music etc

^top

yoga : throughout the course, each session will start with yoga adapted for children.  This aims to establish a routine or ritual at the beginning of each session to which all children can relate and also promtoes a coordinated use of their body.  Yoga focuses on the breath, flexibility, focus and concentration.

suspension : brings a sate of non-gravity similar to water and can awaken deeply rooted memories and a sense of freedom of action.  The absence of gravity and sense of flying brings lots of excitement and serenity at the same time, together with a sense of wellbeing.

^top

recording and sharing the experience : tutors or the flying children themselves (from their own view angle!) can film the suspensions sessions.  The children will be encouraged to edit their own material guided by the video artist.  A further step can be taken to set up an online conference to share images and experiences between children of different schools that have been part of the same project.

the flying machine : a space in each school kept in semi-darkness and devoted to the simulation of flight.  With an aerodynamic design created and built by the children with the help of the tutors, it will be made from light coloured fabrics and have projected images recorded by the children throughout the programme.  It is the culmination of the experiences felt throughout the journey made by the chldren and adults together.    The space is alive with a soundscape, smells, tastes and textures conveying the experience and exhilaration of flight.  It is a space for inventing and developing stories. 

^top