The University of Leicester's arts centre - open to all

Thursday 16 May at 7.30pm
£10 / £8 / £5 (NUS extra card holders)

1 hour. For all ages. Family friendly

Book here

Poetic, moving and soul stirring, Jugni, meaning ‘female firefly’, captures the spirits of real women. Jugni is a powerful and uplifting explosion of dance, music and meaning, with soaring vocals, Qawaali-inspired percussion and powerful choreography influenced by folkloric dance styles.

Celebrated for their bold new style of Kathak, Sonia Sabri Company illustrates personal stories through intricate plays of movement, rhythm and rhyme. Choreographer Sonia Sabri and musical director Sarvar Sabri present their work through a largely female cast.

Tonight’s performance opens with a short performance by students from Rushey Mead School. The piece will be devised at a workshop with the company arranged by the Embrace Arts Take Part education and outreach programme.

For further information: www.ssco.org.uk

Friday 17 May, 11am - 12pm

Only 1 workshop is available. Suitable for KS4+

To book contact Marianne Pape on 0116 252 3037

A unique opportunity to meet and work with David Toole, prior to their evening performance of Extra-Ordinary at Embrace Arts.
Fresh from the Paralympic opening ceremony, David Toole will be sharing skills and techniques to develop your own unique way of dancing.

Please contact Marianne Pape for more information on 0116 252 3037 [email protected]

Sunday 19 May and 16 June

2pm - 3pm: Active: fun and physical, and autism friendly session

3.30pm - 5pm: Reflective: for children with complex disabilities
£5 per child per session, accompanying adults free

Book here for Active: autism friendly session

Book here for Reflective: children with complex disabilities session

See the poster here

Fun and physical: for children with autism and their families - these magical movement sessions bring an inclusive approach to dance by enabling families with disabled children to explore movement and take part together.

Reflective and sensory: for children with complex disabilities and their families, these magical movement sessions bring an inclusive approach to dance by enabling families with disabled children to explore movement and take part together.

These magical movement sessions bring an inclusive approach to dance by enabling families with disabled children to explore movement and take part together at Embrace Arts on Sundays once a month.
Our experienced and supportive dance artists Liz Clark and Oksana Tyminska tailor activities to enable everyone to take part, have fun and get creative!
"The session adapts to each child, it's just so much fun, sometimes energetic, sometimes calm - whatever the child wants really." Participating parent

Friday 31 May at 11.30am and 1.30pm
Saturday 1 June at 10am, 11.30am and 1.30pm
For 2 – 5 years 40 minutes (no interval).

Relaxed performance Friday 31 May 1.30pm for children with disabilities and their families (not available for sale online)

£7 each / party of four £25 / £5 (NUS extra card holders)

Book here

Print out your own paperbelle to colour in here

Paperbelle’s world is black and white and she likes it that way. She’s heard of colour; but would prefer things to stay as they are. The colours, on the other hand, want to play games and they want Paperbelle to join in. Paperbelle’s world is changing – will she try to stop it or might she find it’s not as bad as it first seemed?

An enchanting theatre performance for children aged 2 to 5 years and their families, friends, schools and nurseries, Paperbelle is a gentle and playful exploration of colour set in a magical world of paper.

Eat, play and have fun – in the Arts Bar at Embrace Arts throughout Spark
Free activity centre and children’s fun food bags for just £2.30 – make your own Paperbelle puppet, create some bunting and doodle away on our special tablecloths.

A wonderful introduction to theatre for young audiences from the makers of much-loved productions ‘Moussa’s Castle’, ‘Peep’ and ‘Too Many Penguins?’

**** ‘I’ve never seen a toddler audience so happy’ The Scotsman

***** ‘full of magic and amazement’ The Edinburgh Guide

Thursday 6 June: 1 group performance.
Friday 7 June: 3 group performances

Duration: 50 minutes
Free to groups of 6 young people with PMLD and their assistants.

Young people aged 11 years and above only, with profound and multiple learning disabilities and autism.

To book, contact Marianne Pape on 0116 252 3037 / [email protected]

White Peacock tells the story of a young boy, Sam, and a girl he meets called Phoebe and the mystery of the white peacock. Explore the garden, with real grass and soil to touch, a pond to dip feet in, a tree to lie under and flowers to smell. Discover hidden objects and memories with Sam and Phoebe.

White Peacock is a magical 50-minute play with sensory interaction, for six learning disabled and autistic young people aged 11 and above, each supported by a companion. Performances take place inside a specially constructed micro-theatre, where the audience can experience the play in a safe, contained space from which they can easily take time out if they wish to. There is a celebration, with music and dancing; the audience is given instruments and invited to join in.

Kindly supported by Arts Council England and Leicester City Council Disabled Children's Services.

Eat, play and have fun - in the Arts Bar at Embrace Arts throughout Spark
Free activity centre and children’s fun food bags for just £2.30

Course for under 4 years
Tiny dancer
Tuesdays, 1pm - 2pm 4 June - 9 July
Tutor: Alison Bacon, £20 for 6 sessions
A fun and friendly dance class specially designed for children under 4 years and their parents / carers. Dance, move, sing and play together, using all kinds of music and props, including the popular 'stretchy band' (provided). No special equipment or clothing necessary.

See all our courses and workshops for children and families

Courses for 0 - 7 years
Early years sculpture
Saturdays 15 and 22 June, 20 and 27 July, 24 and 31 August and 21 and 28 September 2013
10am - 12pm: 0 - 2 years
1pm - 3pm: 3 - 7 years
Tutor: Penny Davis, £16 per child for each pair of sessions (accompanying adult free)
A great way for children and their adults to explore sculpture through messy play over two sessions. Try different materials and techniques, collecting your discoveries in your own photo scrapbook.

See all our courses and workshops for children and families

Our Community Arts Administration Apprentice, Claire Tidmarsh is creating our Young People's Advisory board, for young people aged 14 - 19 and disabled young people aged 14 - 26 which launches on 23 February, 2 - 4.30pm.

This includes 2 free tickets to The Flying Machine. It's a great opportunity for young people to discover more about the arts and organise events and feed into the programming at Embrace Arts.
To join the group and to find out more email [email protected]

Embrace Arts are pleased to support Leicestershire's CiC choir, as our young choir in residence.

Led by Catriona Candler the choir members are currently aged from 8 - 17 years and have recently performed at the tenth annual Celebration of Achievement evening.
For more information about the choir and to join please contact Catriona Candler at [email protected]

FREE opportunities for teachers

- Complimentary tickets to key productions
- Invitations to artists talks and exhibition previews
- Art form development sessions
- Opportunities to network with other teachers, artists and arts agencies.
Find out more from Marianne Pape on 0116 252 3037 [email protected]

25 May, 1pm - 5pm, Free

Celebrate the roots of hiphop in Leicester at this free event, with performances, workshops, exhibitions, and video made by local young people.

Sessions will focus on the 4 strands of hip-hop: music, dance, words and graffiti arts, and will enable young people to create new work and explore the heritage of these artforms in Leicester.
To find out more and sign up to the workshops, contact [email protected] 0116 252 3037

Kindly supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and in partnership with local artists and arts organisations, we are celebrating and exploring the roots of hip hop in Leicester with young people across the city.

Ten year 11 students from Ellesmere SEN College have passed their Bronze Youth Arts Awards, supported by Embrace Arts and Dance 4.

They worked with us to organise their own Dance Day at Embrace Arts, learning all the skills needed to produce an event for their year 7 peers.
We offer discount tickets for the go and see sections of the arts award, and meet artists at our exhibitions and residencies for free. See our What's on guide for a list of events.
Find out more about the arts award here: www.artsaward.org.uk

"Thank you for today - it was just FANTASTIC! It worked really well on so many levels; the leadership and empowerment of the Year 10 students to run the event; the enthusiasm and enjoyment of the year 7s; the atmosphere and sense of fun for everyone; the inspirational performance from Studio 79!"
S. Coopey - Head of PE at Ellesmere College.

Led by Lisa Pidgeon and Lindsey Warnes Carroll
�10 per child (accompanying adult free)
Be inspired by the work of cartoonist Jon Burgerman (�Pens Are My Friends�) to make a three-dimensional character from recycled textiles, and then use it to create your own stories. Please note children under 8 years must be accompanied by an adult.