Arts at York

September 4, 2011
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So; York doesn’t have a Fine Art department, its Film, Theatre and TV department is tentatively new, and for all you can tell, no swish dance studio can be spotted amongst the expanse of duck-habitat…

Do not let this superficial impression of artistic opportunity at York fool you; the arts-related societies at York are busy, vibrant, friendly and provide something for everyone. Whether you’ve had to cut your tap dancing lessons short when you moved to uni, or you’ve always nursed a little dream of potential stage stardom, there is no reason you’ve got to lay your hobbies or interests aside. In fact, this is the perfect opportunity to branch out into new areas of the Arts, keep going with what you already love, and have a great time amongst like-minded people.

Whether you want to put on your own play, relax with a bout of communal drawing and chatting, or work towards national dance competitions, let in a little creativity and sociability into your uni experience and emerge all the better for it. Nouse has compiled a taster of some societies to watch out for – find them and many more at Freshers’ Fair and sign up for your year-long Arts fix!

Art Society
At just two years old, ArtSoc is now a lively and established student society. It offers a range of student-led art sessions: from regular life drawing to themed workshops such as felting and edible art. There’s always a great range of materials to work with; for example, in life drawing, you can try out pencil, charcoal, and oil pastel in the same session. I have been a member of ArtSoc for just over a year, and have found it an incredibly welcoming society to be in. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an experienced artist, or whether you’re scared of picking up a paintbrush; the society is simply about enjoying making art. Next year, we hope to expand our horizons – an art trip to Europe may even be on the cards. We are planning lots of exciting things for Freshers’ term, so come and escape from the chaos, meet some friendly people, and create some art! CD

Ballet Society
Doubless half of the female population of the world has been dragged to ballet, kicking and screaming or pirouetting in excitement, when they were young. The Ballet Society offers two types of weekly classes with a professionally qualified dance teacher, Beginners and Advanced. Advanced classes are more of an Intermediate/Upper Intermediate level though, so don’t be daunted to up your game if you’ve got a few years under your belt. The atmosphere is one of the most casual and friendly I’ve experienced. There is no set syllabus, so you are welcome to join in whenever and however often you want: whether you are new, pro, male, female, fresher or postgrad. The society also offers a chance to perform at many uni events, teach others your own choreography, and it was voted the Most Developed Society at the 2011 YUSU Awards. SJ

Dance Society
Dancing means different things to different people. For some it is simply a way of keeping fit in a more social environment than the gym, an hour-long release from curricular pressures or the sense of achievement which comes from mastering a unique combination of steps. Others enjoy the art of performance, the thrill of competing and the physical challenges dancing demands by pushing the body to its limits. Whether you have arrived at University as a fully-fledged hip-hop performer or have never put on a pair of tap shoes in your life, the University of York Dance Society caters for everyone. Weekly beginners and advanced classes in jazz, street, tap and salsa are relaxed and inclusive while structured and technical. For more ambitious performers, there are dance competitions throughout the year to look forward to: in Durham, Loughborough and against our rivals Lancaster at Roses. There are opportunities for everyone to perform in flashmobs, the Dance Society showcase, in York city centre for York Carnival and at campus’s biggest charity music event, Woodstock. Dance Society is always expanding, always offering its members new opportunities to experience different styles. Socially, the society bridges age, ability and style; it ultimately unifies everyone who loves to dance. Joining the University of York Dance Society was one of the best things I ever did in my Freshers week. Try it: you won’t regret it. DS

Drama Society
York’s drama scene has generated quite a name for itself nationally. The Drama Society has had yearly success in the National Student Drama Festival and always present in force at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. New writing and physical theatre almost always feature in the line-ups at their venue The Drama Barn (Vanbrugh). If this scene is for you, you will doubtless hear the name ‘Belt Up’ bandied around – a young theatre company run by four York DramaSoc alumni that until this year was the resident theatre company at York Theatre Royal. Now the name to note is John Askew (DramaSoc Chair) – a bit of a veteran of the Barn’s stage, newly elected, and set to do some good things with the society. When you get here, one thing you have to do is see or work on a Barn play. There’s one every week. Put on by DramaSoc, the runs are generally three nights long, although it’s not uncommon for a play to be given an extra Thursday, or alternatively to have a limited capacity. If you want to be in one or put one on, it’s easy to get involved: at the end of each term there are directors workshops after which production teams pitch their plays. The committee decide on a line-up and generally the next week there are open auditions for all. The first term is different to allow for fresher’s to join in straight away – the first three weeks have been cast, but the rest will be cast at the beginning of term. MDG

English Society
Popularly known as EngSoc, this is a friendly society for all those studying English Literature, or those who are simply interested in the subject. The society has gone from strength to strength in the last couple of years, with consecutive calendar years culminating in a trip to the seaside as well as an excellent garden party organised last summer term, complete with a ‘wish-tree’! My experience of the society thus far has been very positive. Their quirky, literary-themed social events have enabled me to meet other students with similar interests across different years. This coming year the society aims to promote departmental events and organise their own fortnightly socials, as well as extras such as an introductory tea party, a trip to Haworth Parsonage, an alumni event, and another splendid summer party! Hope to see you at Freshers’ Fair. RK

Fusion
Fusion is an annual show of student talent, featuring dance, music, fashion and collective effort culminating in three consecutive show nights in Spring Term. Fusion as a society is unique in the sense that it almost completely reinvents itself every year; a new committee with a new vision takes the scale, energy and theme of this event in fresh directions. Having tentatively given it a try in my very first term at university, I was surprised at how welcoming, dedicated and productive this society is, whether you’re a fresher or past member. Fusion offers something for anyone who wants to create and participate. You can be a dancer, model, choreographer, costume designer; you can be involved in getting sponsorship or generating publicity; you can design the tech or music of the show. To give the cast, crew and their friends well-deserved breaks from all their effort, Fusion holds themed socials at great venues for everyone, as well as a huge afterparty. At the end of this you are sure to have a group of new friends, memories and experiences. SJ

TheatreGoers Society
Whether you’re a frequent theatre-goer or have never been before and are looking to try something new, TheatreGoers is a constantly growing and welcoming society that provides something for everyone. We go to see several productions each term in York, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield as well as running big trips to London each year. Whether you’re a fan of well-known plays, musicals or more obscure theatre you can guarantee there will be something for you. Last year’s productions included Richard III, Oleanna, We Will Rock You, Blood Brothers, The Deep Blue Sea, The Crucible and most recently, Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare’s Globe. I have found TheatreGoers the perfect place to develop my love of theatre and have enjoyed productions I hadn’t previously thought to see. We’ve got a fantastic line-up planned for this term, starting with Shakespeare’s King Lear. You needn’t worry about coming along to a show or one of our socials by yourself, as TheatreGoers is a welcoming environment in which to meet new people. AM

World Cinema Society
A small but friendly society, I find World Cinema Soc is exactly what I need on a rainy Friday evening. Immersing yourself in a film (for a ludicrous price I might add; a fiver for three terms’ worth) is sometimes just the solution to a long week, a stressful day, or a great alternative if you aren’t in the mood to hit the town. Bringing you the best of what the real film world (read: un-Hollywood) has to offer, this society is the one place I literally feel like I arrive in one mindset and leave in an utterly new one. There is nothing quite like independent foreign film to take you out of your comfort zone and present you with a new outlook on the world. Veterans shall find that it’s a very friendly and casual atmosphere in which even your oddest cinematic tastes shall be accomodated; newbies, banish any irrational fear of subtitles, sit back, and enjoy. SJ

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