Happy New Year to all our readers from all of us here at axis. We hope that your new years resolutions include dropping in here more often, whether its for a cup of tea or a show - our doors are always open. Its been an exciting week with the arrival of our new EVENT GUIDE so be sure to pop in and get your hands on one. There is a fantastic line up of classes, projects, events and shows so get booking! Its time to catch up with Philip Connaughton our dancers in residence and its a little later than scheduled so apologies for that. He has the low down on all things dance from Ballymun from December and January. Emma will be back with a blog post next week to get you up to speed on what she is working on. Over to Philip...

Here is the latest update from Philip Connaughton, our Dance Artist in Residence:

THE BIG C in axis is for CELEBRATION! I had two arts development projects start in the past two weeks and with each project comes a celebration event of some shape or size. TALES is our storytelling in schools project which started on Monday in 8 primary schools across Ballymun, Whitehall, Finglas and Glasnevin. Each week for the next four weeks, storytellers will work in the classrooms with the students and teachers. The project will culminate in a Celebration event here in axis in December to mark the achievements and learning for all involved. There is the opportunity to tell stories, talk about what has been learned, show photos and film. The other project that started recently was SING. Over the course of 8 weeks local adults will work with members of the National Chamber Choir of Ireland and perform here in axis alongside the choir on the 18th December. For us, the end of a project is as important as any other part. It gives participants an opportunity to reflect on the process and realise what has been undertaken throughout the project. It’s not necessarily about showing off what has been made/produced/rehearsed but more so about giving them the time to think about the process that they have been through. For children, this can be guided or structured, for adults it can be less formal. When running any arts development project it is really important to have an end point. We have found that it gives a project focus, without pressure, and structure, whilst retaining flexibility. It’s also great as a project co-ordinator to see the sense of achievement across participants’ faces when they get to stand on stage, sometimes for the first time, alongside professional artists or in front of their peers. It adds another level of validity to the work and makes it feel more tangible. On another note, this time last week we were gearing up for our sold out screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show – what a night that was! With a shadow cast of over 30 local women, myself, Emma (arts development co-ordinator), local man Sean Harvey and professional performers Duane Watters (of Pony Dance fame), John Furlong, Renae Von Meding and Jean Gill, we raised the roof of axis’ theatre! It was a fantastic experience for all involved and for me it was a pleasure to work with the local community on a different level to my previous work. There was a fantastic response from the audience with requests of MORE so fingers crossed…. As the Terminator (kind of) says, WE’LL BE BACK! Tuesday saw the launch of ‘On the Road’ by visual artist Paul Mac Cormaic. Then was a tremendous turn out on the night and there has already been a great response to the exhibition. Cecilia Moore, a local artist with a longstanding connection to axis, first put Paul in contact with me. The conversation lasted over a year but I am delighted to finally house his work. Please feel free to pop in any day between 10am and 6pm to see this show. It will be here until the 14th December so catch it while you can! I have to head into a meeting now with Lucy Mc Kenna (visual artist who is exhibiting here in Jan/Feb 2013) so I had best be off. Emma will be back with a blog post next week to keep you up to date in the world of axis Arts Development! Niamh  

Firstly, the 5, 6, 7, 8! does not refer to the (brilliant) STEPS classic...! As you may (or may not) know. axis have a Dance Artist in Residence from Sept 12 - Sept 13. This fabulous Dance Artist is the one and only Philip Connaughton. We are delighted to be a home from home for Philip over the coming 12 months and are very much looking forward to collaborating with him during that time on lots of different projects and pieces (he cant escape now!!) During his time here, Philip has agreed to keep us all posted on his work by writing a montly blog, the first installment is here today! I just wanted to do a quick intro for you all before you dive head first into his wonderful world - enjoy: 

I can officially say that this week, I had one of the best, if not THE best, theatre experiences of my life. I saw ‘Silent’ by Fishamble Theatre Company here is axis on Wednesday and I can honestly say that it will stay with me for a long time. It is an incredible show with one powerhouse of a performer, Pat Kinevane. I urge anyone to go see it (tonight or tomorrow night here at axis) if you can – you wont be disappointed. I don’t want to describe it too much as you must just see it for yourself but it touches on lots of different struggles in life – homelessness, homosexuality, family problems, and gets right to the core of you. JUST GO SEE IT OK?! I will say no more. The latest exhibition, Wise Ways, had a very successful launch last Wednesday – we are in the process of getting the pictures up on to our Facebook page so keep an eye out for them and their accompanying stories, they are really special. Better yet, stop in and have a look at the exhibition in the flesh! Its here until the 26th October. The next artist to exhibit here is Paul Mac Cormaic. I’m really excited to see his work on the walls as it’s different to what we have had recently.

  I can’t believe that we have pretty much arrived at the end of September already – this month has flown in! It’s been a busy one, what with all of the classes starting back and the new season programme taking off.

Don't tell me it's Friday already? Don't know about you but this week flew and its been another busy one. I have literally just pressed 'submit' on The Arts Council website - LiFT Youth Arts Festival application for next year's now in. For a taste of this years' festival check out the link below! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thL0Uu8LKdU&list=UUBq5beoxXQAgDNr5OYExtfg&index=1&feature=plcp Earlier this week, Green Hat research company were in the building doing a number of consultations/focus groups on behalf of DCC Arts office. We invited members of our community (artists, young people, residents, youth workers etc) to take part.

It’s PINK… No, there are no new babies floating around the building, but our striking new Autumn/Winter programme is out. It’s PINK (very pink) and you can’t miss it.

We are officially right back in the thick of things here at axis. Registration took place for our new term of music, art and drama classes with all classes starting back next week; the café is packed at lunchtime with students from the Comp; the new programme is flying out the door and should be arriving through a letterbox near you very soon.

  Philip is upstairs doing a final proof read of our new autumn programme (Sept – Jan), Niamh Fitz and Niamh Nic are both downstairs in axis café meeting our new Dance Artist-in-Residence, Philip Connaughton, Mark is taking a few well deserved days off and me…. what am I up to at the moment? 

 Funded through Young Ballymun’s Literacivic bursary Write Away is all about igniting a community’s imagination & inspiring people to write. axis in partnership with Fighting Words, a creative writing centre established by Roddy Doyle and Sean Love, launch Write Away, a new writing project involving up to 60 local residents – men, women, older people and young people who will be given space to explore their creativity, to perform and to publish their work. Check out the Write Away Blog: writeawaywomen.wordpress.com

Happy Friday everyone!

WOW – we have had a busy two weeks here in the land of axis! The new programme has landed, our latest exhibition Sentiments by Frances Carton was launched and LiFT planning is in full swing. Next week will be *slightly* quieter as our classes take a break for the school mid-term but we will still be working hard.