Ysbrydoli/Inspire
Ebrill/April 2025
What Inspires You?
Beth syn Eich Ysbrydoli?
Is it amazing people past and present?
Ai pobl anhygoel ddoe a heddiw?
Stories from history or tales of fiction?
Straeon o hanes neu chwedlau ffuglen?
'Inpire' was a site-specific dance and circus performance at Abergavenny Castle that explored the theme of inspiration.
55 Dance Blast community members, young people and adults took part in the making of this spectacular performance.
This project was a partnership between Dance Blast and Mon Life Heritage, thanks to funding from Arts Council Wales and additional funding from Creative Futures.
Take a look at our documentary...
MYCC = Monmouthshire Youth Circus Company/Cwmni Syrcas Ieuenctid Sir Fynwy
MCDC = Monmouthshire Connected Dance Company/Cwmni Dawns Gysylltiedig Sir Fynwy
MYDC = Monmouthshire Youth Dance Company/Cwmni Dawns Ieuenctid Sir Fynwy
Order of Performance/Trefn perfformiad
MYCC: Stilt Walkers 1/Cerddwyr Stiltiau MYCC 1
Our stilt walker characters are inspired by Lady Llanover, a Welsh heiress best known as a patron of Welsh arts, language and dress, plus her husband Benjamin Hall. It is said that Big Ben at the palace of Westminster was named after him, as he was Commissioner of Works in 1855 when it was built.
Supported by stilt walkers Rhi Matthews and Kevin McIntosh
Cefnogir gan gerddwyr stilt Rhi Matthews a Kevin McIntosh
MYCC: Aerial Hang About/MYCC: Tin-droi Awyrol
Time Keepers/Ceidwaid Amber
An aerial hangabout inspired by Big Ben. The time keeper explores the idioms of time told from the branches of trees.
The branches and leaves rustle in delight as the time keepers bask in the glory of the extra hour from daylight saving time. The time keepers treasure time, they nudge us to take time, to help them to look for lost time and to help them to catch the time flies.
Directed by: Elle Kate
Cyfarwyddwyd gan: Elle Kate
Choreographed by: Elle Kate, Kaiya Thomas and the aerialists
Coreograffi gan: Elle Kate, Kaiya Thomas a'r awyrolwyr
MCDC: Gwenynen Gwent
The piece is inspired by Welsh heiress, Lady Llanover, best known as a patron of the Welsh arts. She was a strong advocate of Welsh traditions, language and costumes and extremely enthusiastic about the Eisteddfod; The name of the piece ‘Gwenynen Gwent,’ being her Bardic name (Eisteddfod artist pseudonym) meaning Gwent Bee. The dance uses traditional Welsh folk dance patterns to inspire its movement patterns and sees the traditional dance transform into a performance of a battle scene! This is inspired by the many historical battles in which the English and Welsh fought for control of the Welsh Marches and possession of Abergavenny castle alternated between the two sides, and particularly inspired by the famous rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr, where the castle was besieged by Welsh forces!
Choreographed by: Sarah Rogers and the dancers
Coreograffi gan: Sarah Rogers a'r danswyr
Atomic Advance: All of Us/Atomic Uwch: Pob un Ohonom
A conceptual take on how we inspire each other. One small impulse of positivity can spill over and create a ripple effect of personal growth. All of us can come together and take inspiration from those around us to achieve greatness.
Choreographed by: Hayley Feehan and the dancers
Coreograffi gan: Hayley Feehan a'r danswyr
MYDC Intermediate: Spirit Seekers/Canolradd MYDC: Chwilwyr Ysbryd
Join the cast and crew of the new hit TV series 'The Spirit Seekers' as they bravely go into the paranormal unknown. Follow them as they explore the grounds of Abergavenny Castle to see what ghostly goings on they find! Not for the faint hearted!!
Choreographed by: Kim Noble and the dancers
Coreograffi gan: Kim Noble a'r danswyr
MYDC Foundation: Off to the Shops/Sefydliad MYDC: Bant i'r Siopau
Inspired by the 1940's replica of Basil Jones’ shop in Abergavenny Castle Museum, MYDC Foundation dancers have gone back in time as they set up shop! Grabbing their groceries and posting off packages. 'Off to the Shops' follows the dancers through the hustle and bustle of everyday lives of busy 40's Abergavenny town.
Choreographed by: Kim Noble and the dancers
Coreograffi gan: Kim Noble a'r danswyr
MYDC Intermediate: Spirit Seekers part 2/Canolradd MYDC: Chwilwyr Ysbryd than 2
Choreographed by: Kim Noble and the dancers
Coreograffi gan: Kim Noble a'r danswyr
Chepstow Danceability: Sand and Sea/Dawns Gallu Cat-gwent: Tywod a Môr
Our group was inspired by the film ‘Moana’ and its themes. Throughout the piece the dancers will show movements representing bravery, friendship, community and individuality. The nature in the film was also a big inspiration, and the dance takes us from the calm sea to a wild volcano
Choreographed by: Eluned Owen, Krystal Lowe and the dancers
Coreograffi gan: Eluned Owen, Krystal Lowe a'r danswyr
MYDC Inter & Advanced Joli Vyann project: The Aviator/MYDC Canolradd ac Uwch Prosiect Joli Vyann: Yr Awyrenwr
This piece is inspired by the life and death of Charles Rolls, whose family was from Monmouthshire. He was one of the pioneers of British aviation and the first British person to die in an aeronautical accident.
Through dynamic, athletic and acrobatic contemporary dance the dancers explore the human desire to overcome gravity and the courage and mindset of these first aviators.
Choreographed by: Olivia Quayle and Jan Patzke
Coreograffi gan: Olivia Ouayle a Jan Patzke
INTERVAL/EGWYL
MYCC: Aerial Hang About/MYCC: Tin-droi Awyrol
Inspired by Big Ben’s timeless tick-tock, and exploring with the natural beats of the trees. The leaves rustle with tales from Monmouthshire’s 19th century MP and House of Commons Commissioner of Public Works - Benjamin Hall. With an extra hour from daylight saving time, Time Keepers nudges us to take time, to lose track of time and to be on time for the rest of the show.
Directed by: Elle Kate
Cyfarwyddwyd gan: Elle Kate
Choreographed by: Elle Kate, Kaiya Thomas and the aerialists
Coreograffi gan: Elle Kate, Kaiya Thomas a'r awyrolwyr
MYDC Advanced: Eyes Closed, Mind Goes/Uwch MYDC: Llygaid ar Tau, Medal yn Mynd
Our piece explores the prospect of forever being in someone else's control and constantly being pulled in every direction by others. By using juxtaposition and contrast, we explore the feeling of control through movement but also break out of these barriers both in movement and in living our lives in ways that inspire us.
Choreographed by: The dancers
Coreograffi gan: Y danswyr
Boy's Blast: Castellan/Blast Bechgyn: Castellan
The old King is dead, long live the King. Inspired by the setting of the crumbling castle ruins, the piece reflects the way in which some are inspired to act in the presence of a power vacuum.
Choreographed by: Mitchell Aldridge and the dancers
Coreograffi gan: Mitchell Aldridge a'r danswyr
MYCC Ensemble piece: BEN/Darn ensemble MYCC: BEN
BEN is a performance by Monmouthshire Youth Circus Company that delves into the legacy of Sir Benjamin Hall, a 19th century Abergavennian who was an advocate for Welsh Culture, a champion for social reform and a supporter of the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. Benjamin Hall oversaw the installation of the Great Bell in the Palace of Westminster, which is believed to bear his nickname, 'Big Ben', after the tall man from Abergavenny.
BEN explores the mechanical movement of the clock and the moments when Big Ben's chimes fell silent—in wartime blackouts, and in the winter of the Big Freeze, when extreme temperatures caused the clock's hands to freeze in a standstill, leading to a rare silence at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. The piece explores the resilience of inspiration through time illustrating how it can ricochet from person to place and back again.
Directed by: Elle Kate
Cyfarwyddwyd gan: Elle Kate
Choreographed by: Elle Kate, Kaiya Thomas and the aerialists
Coreograffi gan: Elle Kate, Kaiya Thomas a'r awyrolwyr
MYDC & MCDC Company Chameleon: Storm/Cwmni Cameleon, MYDC & MCDC: Storm
‘Storm’ is a work inspired by the idea of storms in all its permutations. From the countless meteorological storms that have battered against the walls of the castle, the human storms it has repelled during battle, and the internal storms that we all experience from time to time. Storm is a layered work that explores all these ideas through rich and creative choreography. The process has been very collaborative and the dancers have been brilliant throughout the process and have developed and contributed hugely to the creation of the piece.
Choreographed by: Kevin Edward Turner MBE and the dancers, assisted by Kim Nobel and Sarah Rogers
Coreograffi gan: Kevin Edward Turner MBE a'r answer, gyda chymorth Kim Noble a Sarah Rogers
Producer/Cynhyrchydd: Kathy Young
Production Manager/Rheolwr Cynhyrchu: Jani Foldi
Technical & Rigging Suport/Cymorth Technegol a Rigio: Leif Le Page, Lee Tannin, Elle Kate, Jules Young, Lyndall Merry & Kevin McIntosh
Production Assistants/Cynorthwywyr Cynhyrchu: Rosie Spencer & Lily Spencer
Event equipment & support/Offer digwyddiadau a chefnogaeth: ML Events: Ellis, Andrew & Ben
Designer, Stilt walking & Aerial costumes/Dylunydd, cerdded stiltiau a gwisgoedd awyrol: Rhi Matthews
Design, making and sourcing costumes/Dylunio, gwneud a dod o had i wisgoedd: Kathy Young, Jenny Beswick, Gaynor Johnson, Radha Harrison, Petra Steward & Sue Maloney
Documentary film-maker/Gwneuthurwr ffilmiau dogfen: Darryl Corners
Social media story teller/Storïwr cyfryngau cymdeithasol: Megan Griffiths
