DoodleBug: the animation, is part of a larger inclusive collaboration led by LPM Dance, in partnership with North Lancashire Downs Syndrome Group.

The project initially involved DoodleBug dance workshops with young children at Morecambe Road School, The Loyne Specialist School and Lune Park Children’s Centre. The child-led sessions brought together children and their grown-ups to explore creative movement, mark-making and play, using sensory props, the natural world and art materials.

The learning from the workshops and the material captured on film went on to inform the development of two new pieces of art.

1. DoodleBug: ‘the show’; a sensory dance and live music performance for young children and their grown-ups. The responsive piece has been created for early-years settings in Fleetwood and is on tour this Autumn in Fleetwood and Lancaster.
2. DoodleBug: ‘the animation’, a collaboration between LPM Dance and Courtney McCarthy, a dance artist and choreographer with expertise in digital media, animation and projection. The animation features the creative work by the young children from the workshops, capturing the playful and joyful essence of the interactions. Music by Jemima Thewes.

LPM Dance create richly diverse and ambitious dance experiences that bring communities together. The organisation is led by Lancaster based dance artists George Adams and Helen Gould who have specialisms in inclusive dance, choreography and dance for health. LPM has an extensive programme of work that focuses on engaging communities who may otherwise have no access to dance activities. This includes weekly classes, performances, research projects and festivals.