Maiden Voyage welcomes some new additions
In January Eibhlin de Barra joined the team as a part time Company Manager. Eibhlin, who originally trained as a stage manager at RADA, has previously worked with RANSOM Productions, Crescent Arts Centre, Replay Productions, Castleward Opera and the Lyric Theatre. She is also involved with projects for Young at Art including Community Engagement Co-ordinator of Land of Giants and Production Manager of Belfast Children's Festival. Eibhlin commented: "I'm absolutely delighted to join Maiden Voyage at this exciting time in the company's development, exspecially with the exciting upcoming new commission Plants & Hopes. Maiden Voyage has an unparalleled reputation as the leading exponent of contemporary dance in NI and it is a pleasure to work with a company of such high standards."

Maiden Voyage also welcomed Caroline Armstrong onto the Board of Directors.

Plants & Hopes - new production coming in May/June 2012
Following research and development in 2010 our new touring production Plants & Hopes will be entering production in April 2012. The piece has been inspired by choreographer Suzannah McCreight's experience of cancer and pregnancy at the same time. Suzannah has teamed with award winning composer Brian Irvine and Irish Times Theatre Award nominee, set and lighting designer Ciaran Bagnall, to bring this work to life. For tour information click here.

Outreach with Luminous Soul
Our outreach team, lead by Suzannah McCreight, has been working with Luminous Soul to develop their technical and creative skills and a short performance piece for sharing at the end of March. Luminous Soul is a group of disabled people who want to develop and professionalise their dancing skills. The project was set up in order to address the fact that there are at present no disabled dancers working in Northern Ireland.

GAP Placement
Jayne Smith has been selected for placement with us under the GAP (Graduate Apprenticeship Programme) scheme for six months during 2012. The placement will focus on facilitation and outreach with Jayne already engaged in Luminous Soul projects and Older People's projects. GAP provides focused professional development opportunities for early career starters by linking dance-focused organisations in Northern Ireland with dance graduates based here. GAP and is supported by The National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, managed by Assault Events with support from, and in partnership with, the School of Creative Arts, University of Ulster and is delivered in partnership with the individual host organisations.

Maiden Voyage is tweeting!
Maiden Voyage has joined twitter so keep up to date with developments by following us on @MaidenVoyageNI. A new Facebook page has been set up and we are closing the old page at the end of February. If you haven't already "liked" the new page do so now here

Maiden Voyage recommends
1. SCOTTISH DANCE THEATRE - Theatre At The Mill, Newtownabbey, Wed 22 Feb @ 7.45pm

Tickets £8.50 - £14.50. Box office 028 9034 0202 or www.theatreatthemill.com

2. NEDERLANDS DANS THEATER 2 - Grand Opera House, Tues 20 and Wed 21 March @ 7.45pm

Tickets £10 - £19. Box office 028 9024 1919 or www.goh.co.uk

3. DELVE TRAINING - A series of practical and business related training sessions for dance practitioners running from Feb-Sept. A must for everyone working in dance www.danceresourcebase.org