RE:LOAD is a project created by Born and Bred Dance Theatre and Tameside Council, including four artistic disciplines: poetry, street art, dance and film.

Former Ashton Sixth Form College student and owner of Born and Bred, Olivia Peers has worked with current Ashton Sixth Form College students to make a creative film, a live dance performance and an art installation that celebrates the town of Ashton. 

The aim of the RE:LOAD project was to urge people to look at Ashton town centre in a new and positive light. Olivia's challenge was to work with young people to celebrate Ashton. Students from our English, Performing Arts, Film and Art department worked with Olivia to create the RE:LOAD project over four weeks.

Our English students worked with professional poet Louise Fazackerly to create a poem celebrating Ashton. This poem formed the backbone of the project. 

Our Performing Arts students, took the poem and created a dance piece inspired by it. They worked with Helen Le Roux, a dance artist from Oldham. Our Art students also worked with Simon Mound, to use the poetry and turn them into stencils. The stencils were used to create a graffiti art installation outside of Ashton Library.

Film students captured the project, with the help of Josh Hawkins. The students and Josh have created a video of the RE:LOAD project installations, along with capturing shots of Ashton town centre.

The RE:LOAD project was presented in Ashton town centre before half term! Our students and the team's hard work paid off, with the Street Art installation being displayed and the dancers performing their dance, Ashton:Reloaded. Both displays caught the public's attention and the RE:LOAD project was a huge success!

This project has been a fantastic opportunity for our students. They have been able to advance their creative and practical skills, along with other transferrable skills, such as working in a team and to a specific brief.

Well done all for participating! 

RE:LOAD