GET CLARE TO SLOVENIA

ABOUT CLARE BATTERSBY

I'm a freelance children's dance practitioner based in Tāmaki Makaurau. I am passionate about connecting children to nature and encouraging their creativity, self-expression, and joy through movement and space. I believe all tamariki should have opportunities to explore the wondrous possibilities of play, to run through the empty spaces, leap to the stars, and roll across the earth. I am a life-long learner, continually upskilling my practice and with your help, I can take part in an incredible training opportunity that will help me to grow dance opportunities for children.

THE OPPORTUNITY

I have been invited to present at the Dance and the Child International (daCi) conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia in July. While there, I will share my approach to dance with tamariki aged 3 - 10 years, including presenting alongside a wonderful young person who has been involved in my Boy's Dance project. Your support will help me to get there, to present my work to the global dance community, and to learn about the latest innovations that I will share with tamariki (and the sector here) when I am home.

ABOUT daCi

daCi - dance and the Child international - is a volunteer non-profit organization for the development of dance for children and young people internationally. daCi puts children at its centre (hence the capital C for Child!) and supports practitioners, educators, children, and young people to share their work and insights at workshops, meetings, and via newsletters, resources, and this amazing conference.

The daCi network involves National Representatives from 21 countries, including New Zealand – and that’s me! This is an entirely voluntary role that I do because I believe all children have the right to see their world anew through the possibilities of dance expression.

The conference is a 5-day intensive of workshops, performances, and panels with

the theme of I-Dance: I for Imagination, Improvisation, Inclusion, Identity, Intelligence, and Interdisciplinary.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

I need your help to get to Slovenia to the University of Ljubljana for the 5-day conference to cover registration, airfares, accommodation, ground transport, living costs, and insurance.

WHO DOESN’T WANT TO LEAP FOR THE STARS, ROLL ACROSS THE EARTH, AND RUN THROUGH ITS EMPTY SPACES?

That’s the big question I will be posing with your help when I am in Slovenia. My approach with young children supports their sense of belonging and well-being by encouraging body and mind development and creative expression. We perform in nature and my practice is environmentally sustainable.