JMUp IN(tegrated) Dance Project
JUMp IN(tegrated) Dance is a research project belonging to the dance department of Liverpool John Moores University which began in January 2008 with eight members of the group. It consists of participants from all three years of the BA (Hons) Dance studies degree programme, graduates of the degree programme and members of the North West community. 
The company in its third round of existence now has two groups with a total of fifty participants. The project analyses the potential for creating a learning community for different ages, different educational backgrounds and various degrees of dance experience within a cooperative paradigm. The project consists of participants with disabilities and their able bodied peers who work together and bring a host of individual objectives to the work within an environment based on shared values. For some, there is the opportunity to transfer skills and experiences gained in one context and apply these in another, for others there is social and cognitive development. The 
project acknowledges that we are all institutionalised by nature and this project serves as a means for us to better understand the context of these structures and apply strategies and methods to function efficiently within with them.
A key concept for the work so far is to not strictly adhere to traditional boundaries for the selection and refinement of material, but to engage the participant in the feeling of doing movement, and not as yet be concerned about having to remove material from the final structure. The group meets every Monday evening (in term time) 4pm – 6pm on the Liverpool John Moores University, I.M Marsh Campus in Aigburth.
If you would like further information or are interested in becoming part of the group, please do not hesitate to contact us: 0151 231 5212 or e-mail D.L.Carr@ljmu.ac.uk
From You To Me… and Back Again3 (April 2009)
Devised and performed by JMUp IN(tegrated) Dance Project.
Directed by Darren Carr.
Music by: Avro Part, Kraftwork, Steve Reich.
Video Stage 1
Note: "From You to Me… and Back Again3” is reflective as a milestone of the three stages of the project’s development since January 2008. Stage one, began with a company of eight individuals, all of whom had a passion to find a platform of shared values. The initial version (stage one) of the piece performed in May 2008, based on space and relationships (meeting and parting); inspired the project to grow in number to twenty-one. The piece was revisited in December 2008, with a larger cast to explore the concept of language and dynamic. This final milestone created over the last five sessions (April 2009), hopefully displays each individual’s sense of ownership and a journey towards the integration of each of the participant’s desires and creative approaches. The piece is representative of the work the project does. Its aim is to develop physical, social and cognitive development and even though it is not essentially a performance company, the group would like to use this arena to share with you their journey.
