Creative Therapies Dance/Movement Tutor Batel Magen at the Brewery Theatre, Bristol

                       WED 7th - SAT 10th of JULY


About Neshima Dance Company:Artistic director Batel Magen leads new Bristol based dance company Neshima Dance Company in an exciting new project ‘Dancing in Tongues’, which includes two new pieces ‘See what you say’ and ‘Jigsaw’. Both pieces include highly physical and sensitive movement repertoire containing theatrical elements and voice. Musical scores for both pieces are originally composed and created by international, national and local artists.

Neshima, meaning ‘breath’ in Hebrew lives up to its name by incorporating and embodying the use and quality of breath in its repertoire. Neshima is a conceptual based company whereby it explores a range of concepts as the main stimulus for movement.


Dancing in Tongues offers the dancers and the audience the opportunity to delve into the physicality and complexity of Language, Non-Verbal Communication and Relationships.

Dancing in Tongues is currently touring in Bristol offering a 3 day education residency in 7 performing arts schools in Bristol and the surrounding area. Each residency will focus on the concept of the project title and conclude with Neshima making a curtain raiser with the participating students which will then be performed alongside the company during the performances at the schools. Each school will have an evening performance open to the public.

For more information about Neshima Dance Company email:   neshimadance@gmail.com  or go to Neshima Dance Company facebook group for photos and information.

Breaking news!! Wish to train as an Art Psychotherapist or Music Therapist? Newport University could be the place for you!

MA Art Psychotherapy & MA Music Therapy at Newport University in September 2011

INFORMATION EVENING

                                 - MA Art Psychotherapy
                                                  - MA Music Therapy

On July 15 an open information evening will take place at the University of Wales, Newport, Caerleon Campus from 5:30 to7 pm. This will give further details about the proposed commencement of the above courses in September 2011.

To book a place on this free event, contact:

John Roberts, Associate Dean of Planning and Development, School of Education
Email:   John.roberts@newport.ac.uk

Bethlehem Follow-Up Visit

My second visit to Bethlehem was focused on finding out how staff at SOS Village and School were making use of the therapeutic music techniques they had practiced during our initial visit.

I'm pleased to report that staff have been able to continue using music therapeutically, and have begun to develop their own style of leading these groups. It was fantastic to see that children we worked with on our first visit were still attending music as therapy groups, and also to see how much they had improved. We could see the development of their creativity, communication skills and self-confidence. All showed much greater concentration, and an enormous enjoyment of the experience.

The challenge now is to support this emerging staff team so they can not only develop their own skills, but hopefully pass them on to other professionals.

Just as last time, people were unfailingly kind and welcoming. We visited the family home of the school social worker and met his children. His wife prepared a delicious lunch for us, after we had shopped for the ingredients in the local market. It was also great to see the children we stayed with last year. They had lots of photos of us and drawings on their walls.

Once again, and fantastic experience.

Project Bethlehem Follow-Up May 2010

On May 3rd, myself and musician Hannah McCabe are returning to Bethlehem in the West Bank for one week as a follow-up visit to our original 6 week stint in October last year. We have arranged to observe and give feedback on the Music As Therapy sessions the teachers and social workers we trained to begin leading.
We have had some lovely emails from our friends out there, who all have lots of questions about how to develop and sustain their work. We will be exploring with them how this can be done, and what our role now and in the future will be with this work.
I am meeting with the Overseas Volunteer Coordinator at the SOS Village and School, and hope to look in to the possbility of a field trip for students at some stage. I will let you know all about this when I get back.

The Shape of Things

I know that Les advised students of this exhibition currently on in Bristol City Museum. I myself visited it last weekend, and can thoroughly recommend it. The artists use items normally exhibited in the Gallery together with objects donated by the general public to explore common themes of memory, growth, life and death. The show as a whole is thought-provoking, and I think offers students studying on the course some interesting ideas that may be of use in their own work and placements.

Go on, give it a go - it's free!

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Newport University


MA   Arts Psychotherapy

Music Therapy & Art Psychotherapy

approved by

Health Professions Council!

The Health Professions Council, which approves & regulates the work of therapists & psychotherapists in the UK, have just signalled their approval of Newport University's new MA Arts Pschotherapy programme. This is set to place Newport University at the forefront of Music Therapy & Art Psychotherapy in Wales & the West of England. Subject to some minor adjustments to documentation and logistics, it is expected that this MA Arts Psychotherapy programme will accept its first cohort of students in October this year.

Currently there is no Art Psychotherapy training provision in the West of England, the West Midlands, the South West of England or Wales, so this MA Art Psychotherapy programme will provide a much needed source of training for those people from these areas who wish to become Art Therapists / Psychotherapists.

This MA Arts Psychotherapy programme will add to the work already begun with the current BA(Hons) Creative Therapies programme which offers pathways in Music, Art or Movement & Dance and now in its second year. Students on this programme are being trained to work therapeutically in a variety of settings, with the first cohort set to complete the programme in 2011.

WANTED! WANTED! WANTED!

MUSICIANS of ALL AGES!

MUSIC...is a great art form with which to engage participants in individual and group work, therapeutically. Within the BA(Hons) Creative Therapies programme MUSIC has a high profile and students have been learning how to involve group participants in activities that raise their self esteem and benefit their personal wellbeing. From the rhythm of a beat to the colours of sound, MUSIC holds the capacity to reach out beyond race, creed, gender, age, culture, ability & disability and make a difference to people's lives - how they feel about themselves. If you're a musician who is trying to figure out the 'next step' in your career or 'life' path, why not join us & let's make a difference to the wellbeing of others - let them share in your passion for music...!

If you'd like to know more, send Jill Lawton an Email:

jill.lawton@newport.ac.uk or contact the Newport University Admissions Office for an application form.