Young disabled talent celebration returns for its 15th year
A festival that celebrates young disabled and deaf artists is set to return for its 15th year.
Young DaDaFest develops young disabled and deaf artists, aged between 12 and 30 by providing them with a platform to perform in front of large audiences.
The annual event, which began in 2003, includes both a performance focused event at the Liverpool Everyman and a music focused event at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall’s new Music Room.
The short festival now also includes a number of fringe events, including Sandfest, an event created by students from Sandfield Park School.
The theme for this year’s Young DaDaFest is Outside the Box. Young performers will examine how people are put into categories which can make them feel judged, isolated and limited.
Young DaDaFest 2017 will showcase a number of diverse and exciting performances. This year’s programme includes; Act Up! from Newham, London producing a chorus piece integrating poetry, ‘sign-along’ and rap; Warrington’s Wolfprint performing Undivided, a contemporary dance piece; Owen Jones performing Beethoven’s Dyslexia Poem and all new work by Young DaDaFest veterans The Champions, Arden Rockers, Like U Dance Company and much more.
Throughout the process, young people are provided with the opportunity to develop their skills. The DaDaFest Young Leaders make all key decisions on the running of the events and chose this year’s acts following the initial call out.
Sam Wade, Arts Manager at DaDaFest said: “The young people we work with are dedicated to increasing the quality of the work they produce, creating high quality work with strong messages.
“They come up with fresh new ideas and have big ambitions for each Young DaDaFest, increasing what we offer each year.”
DaDaFest also provides mentoring and training opportunities for aspiring young performers. The company are also rolling out a new project DaDaFest Rookies, which aims to increase employability for young disabled people within the creative sector.
Young DaDaFest: Perform takes place at the Liverpool Everyman on Thursday July 13, with the Young DaDaFest: Music taking place the following night, Friday July 14, in the Music Room at Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall.
