COLM GALLAGHER
(Education Director)

 Insights into
 AMICI's Philosophy

 I have been involved with  the lives of disabled people  for many years 30+ During  this time I have been  artistically involved with  many mainstream  Performing Arts groups.

In 1988 I met Wolfgang Stange the Artistic Director of AMICI Dance Theatre Company... thus begins a life changing moment. The beauty and unique strength of AMICI is the focus on sharing and acceptance.

The creative philosophy is entirely based on the opportunity on any individual to experience, share and develop their own style of direction and movement vocabulary. This ethos is the only constant within the company. AMICI provides a safe environment for this to happen.

This can change on a weekly basis depending on who is there at the time. This also depends on the visiting artists who add to the experience of our members.

Our creative process is open and we get many visitors from overseas to share with us. We have members who have Physical, Sensory, Learning Disability and People with Mental Health problems and people who don't.

This extraordinary mix of people makes the company exceptionally unique.

Successful practice involves the inherent belief that nothing is impossible and there must be belief and trust in the working group.

A teacher must have the ability to see through the obvious to find the art; a signed hand movement can become much more when the focus is entirely upon it.

There has also to be an openness to the unexpected, an attention to the unusual. We are always ready to throw away our preconceived ideas.

This means you must trust yourself and the participants, the smallest thing may be the basis of your show.

The process of dance within AMICI is a dynamic method based on improvisation. Classes always begin with a sense of the community within the rehearsal room. There is an emphasis on the individual strengths from each performer being celebrated whatever their individual ability, cultural or educational background. This celebration of individual creativity has in turn led to some of our members choreographing works for the company, as this process inspires the group.

AMICI's method is also perfect for intercultural dialogue as the barriers of language are at times made redundant. AMICI has been at the forefront of many intercultural exchanges in the last 25 Years in countries from Egypt to Sri Lanka.

Colm Gallagher Education Director