The Ransack Youth Ambassadors
Our Youth Ambassadors programme is for young people aged between 11 and 21 years, who after working with Ransack would like to get more involved with the company. Youth Ambassadors help us to promote our projects and performances and represent Ransack in their community. Ambassadors also have access to a range of opportunities such as workshops and mentoring with our professional company.
Meet our Youth Ambassadors and find out more about them below.
We’ve also asked them to send in some questions for our professional dancers and choreographer which we have then been answered in an online interview which you can access here.
Ruby Westrip
My name is Ruby Westrip, I’m fifteen years old and I’ve been dancing with Impelo for around four years. I have participated in two previous Ransack productions (Arrive curtain raiser and Murmur community flash mob) and it’s been really interesting to see how each one differs, learning new techniques and dance styles each time and has meant that I have been lucky enough to dance at Theatr Brycheiniog twice. It’s been amazing being taught by professional dancers and I am really excited to see where this new project leads.
My questions for the professional dancers are:
How long does it normally take to choreograph a dance piece?
How do you choose / write music to fit a dance?
Emily Francis
My name is Emily Francis. I am 12 years old and live in Llandrindod Wells. I have lots of hobbies including playing football for my local girls team, art and baking.
I am also a member of Llandrindod Dragons Gymnastics and Llandrindod Theatre Company and have performed in the last 3 local pantomimes.
I have been dancing at Impelo (formerly Powys Dance) since I was 4 years old. During that time I have attended many different workshops. I was also lucky enough to dance at the Urdd Eisteddfod in 2018 for three of the award ceremonies which was a fantastic experience.
I first danced with Ransack in 2019 for the community flash mob in their "Murmur" production. This involved attending workshops at Impelo with Ransack and then having the opportunity to perform alongside the professionals at Theatr Brycheiniog in Brecon. This was an exciting and amazing experience so when I heard about Ransack's new community Flash Mob project, I was very keen to sign up.
Although it was strange at first, to rehearse on zoom rather than in the studio. I really enjoyed the experience of working with the professional dancers on a weekly basis from my own home. I am really looking forward to continuing to work with Ransack on this exciting project.
My questions for the professional dancers are:
Do you train daily?
Did you always know that you wanted to be a dancer?
Verity Tuke
My name is Verity Tuke and I’m 14 years old. I love contemporary dance, art mainly collaging and hill walking. I have taken dance lessons since I was six locally in Llanidloes. Apart from Ransack Dance I have also danced in Aberystwyth at the dance school in the Arts Centre. The Digital Interludes flash mob project is the first project I’ve done with Ransack and I’m looking forward to continuing the project in the studio next year. I’m also taking one to one dance lessons with Sarah, the Director to continue developing my dance technique. My ambition for the future is to study at Laban.
Jonathan Kendrick
Hello, My name is Jonathan Kendrick. I am 16 and I live in Merthyr Tydfil . My hobbies are dance , singing, gaming and going to scouts. I started dancing when I was 9 with a company called Artis Community. I also dance weekly with the company based in Cardiff called Rubicon with their flagship boys group called Stride. In 2016 I took part in the Ransack summer school with my friend and really enjoyed it. I have taken part every year since. I worked with Sarah, the Director again in 2017 when she came to my local Youth club in the Willows Centre, Troedyhriw andwent to weekly classes there for 2 years. Last year during February half term I took part in Ransack’s Explore project, creating a piece with their professional dancers. In the first one we performed an underwater city dance inspired by the legend of Atlantis, which was very floaty and slow. I was involved in the project again this year but we haven't performed yet because of Covid 19. I also performed in the community flash mob project as part of Ransack’s professional production ‘Murmur,’ last year.
My experience with Ransack and the new flash mob project we did in September was very fun. I enjoyed every dance that I was involved with. It was great to see some familiar faces and lovely to meet new people I hadn't danced with before too. I loved this latest project but am looking forward to dancing in person and performing on an actual stage again. It’s been fun dancing together on Zoom but it is a bit odd and confusing sometimes trying to follow the teacher. It is better than not dancing at all at this time though.
My questions for the professional dancers are.
What was the reason that you first became dancers?
Do you have any dance idols and if so who are they?
Georgina Horsley
Hello, my name is Georgina. I'm a GCSE student studying Drama, Art and Music. I'm a ballet and contemporary dancer and have been dancing with Artis Community for 9 years and currently dance in their ‘Inspire Youth Dance Company,’ which one of the Ransack dancers called Mike Williams leads. I have done many different things with Ransack before taking part in their latest flash mob project, such as their summer school project in which I dances, played guitar and sung a solo in the summer school show. I’ve also taken part in their Youth Explore project in which I got to create a performance piece with the professional dancers, and their community flash mob for their Murmur production at Maesteg Town Hall last year.
My questions for the professional dancers are:
I'd love to learn how I gain confidence in myself when it comes to dancing trickier moves?..Do you have some tips?
Also I'd really like to know what's the most exciting dance the Ransack dancers have done?
Click here to see an interview in which some of our professional dancers and Director
answer our Youth Ambassadors’ questions and discuss all things Ransack!
