In light of World AIDS Day on 1 December, our Learning & Development Department hosted the 13th annual ResTec (Respect. Protect.) on Friday 29 November at The Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre.

Since 2011

ResTec has welcomed local school groups, our Phoenix Youth Academy, and Saturday School cohorts, while collaborating with both national and international organisations. The platform have worked to raise awareness and deliver a powerful message of education, respect, and protection through the medium of dance.

Photography by Ewans Lens

This year posed no different as our Learning & Development team focused on three key strands: training dancers of the future, children and young people and the hard to reach.

Out of the four local school groups included a choreographic piece from Carr Manor Community School, taking inspiration from books like The Sun Sister by Lucinda Riley and the organisation Harlem United who since 1988 have raised safety awareness to help women and girls who have contracted HIV during pregnancy.

This year’s Leeds Phoenix Youth Academy cohort also showcased on the day, with Leeds Juniors performing a choreographed dance piece by Phoenix company dancers Dorna Ashory and Dylan Springer. Drawing inspiration from the 2009 film Coraline, the piece explored the delicate balance between protection and curiosity.

“It was amazing to be able to engage four new Secondary schools groups with a huge range of dance experience to be part of ResTec this year. It is brilliant to be able to showcase a variety of age, experience and ability with a common theme in the same programme. All the 150 (approx!) young people involved showed exceptional discipline and energy during the event.” -Rachel Thomson (L&D Schools lead)

Read more about this year’s ResTec programme here

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